The Welsh Government’s Health and Social Care Climate Emergency National Programme, in collaboration with the Dragon’s Heart Institute, recently hosted a highly successful Spread & Scale Academy Leadership Day in February 2025. The event focused on addressing the Climate Emergency and brought together teams working on sustainability projects, who had attended the Spread & Scale Academy in November 2024, to present their progress, achievements, and the challenges they face to senior leadership from across NHS Wales.
The day was inaugurated by Marie Brousseau-Navarro, the Deputy Future Generations Commissioner, and Judith Paget, Chief Executive of NHS Wales. The Leadership Day saw the participation of Chairs, Chief Executives, and a range of other senior leaders from across NHS Wales’ Health Boards and Trusts, who were keen to support and amplify the impact of the teams’ work.
Throughout the day, delegates were facilitated by the Dragon’s Heart Institute team to generate innovative ideas and make commitments that would advance the Climate Emergency agenda within NHS Wales. These commitments are expected to drive significant progress and create a lasting impact on the health and social care sector’s approach to climate change.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the teams’ work, with projects ranging from the launch of the national Gloves-Off Campaign to showcasing the award-winning work taking place in Swansea Bay UHB’s Cardiac ITU. Each team showcased their progress since the November Spread & Scale Academy which was specially commissioned by Welsh Government to support teams working to address the Climate Emergency. They highlighted how they had been able to put the tools and skills gained from the Academy into practice, their resulting achievements and the barriers they have encountered. The presentations were met with enthusiasm and support from the senior leadership, who were impressed by the dedication and innovation demonstrated by the teams.
The event also provided an opportunity for delegates to engage in collaborative discussions and workshops. These sessions were designed for the exchange of ideas and best practices, enabling participants to learn from each other and develop new strategies to address the Climate Emergency. The Dragon’s Heart Institute team played a crucial role in facilitating these discussions, ensuring that the ideas generated were both practical and impactful.
Looking ahead, the collaboration between the Health and Social Care Climate Emergency National Programme and the Dragon’s Heart Institute is set to continue with exciting plans to continue this momentum. Entrants to the NHS Wales Sustainability Awards will be considered for a free place at the next Climate Emergency Spread & Scale Academy, scheduled to take place in October 2025. These selected participants will receive support from the Dragon’s Heart Institute to scale the impact of their innovative work, ensuring that their efforts contribute significantly to the Climate Emergency agenda.
Phil Kloer, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I was delighted and impressed to see such a wide variety of impactful programmes of work aimed at reducing the negative effect of the health service on our environment. It was inspiring to see the strength of clinical and managerial leadership, and a determination to learn and share from each other. I’m keen to continue to support and enhance related activities in Hywel Dda UHB, and hope that we can adopt successful approaches in other Health Boards.”
Suzanne Rankin, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “I was greatly heartened to see the dedication, passion and hard work of all the teams involved in progressing the sustainability agenda. Their ambition to scale their solutions was clear to me, as was their skill in engaging senior leaders such as myself with a compelling aim and vision for how things could change; skills I know they have honed as a result of the Spread & Scale Academy. I am keen to continue supporting these projects as best I can.”
Lisa Wise, Deputy Director, H&SC Climate Emergency National Programme Team, said: “Thanks to the innovative projects showcased, what came shining through is that, as well as reducing emissions, a more sustainable NHS Wales is an NHS that can deliver improved patient outcomes, reduce waste and costs, and is one where passionate NHS colleagues are the stars. I am hugely grateful to the project leads and senior leaders who gave their time and energy to the event and whose ideas, constructive challenge and collaboration made the day such a success.”
Find out more on the Climate Emergency National Programme here.
The Leadership Day was a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of NHS Wales in tackling the Climate Emergency. The innovative ideas and commitments generated during the event promise to make a real and lasting impact, ensuring a sustainable future for health and social care in Wales. The success of the event highlights the importance of continued support and collaboration among all stakeholders to spread and scale the most impactful projects to make a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change.
