HSE West and North West host sustainability conference

The HSE West and North West climate and sustainability conference recently took place in Sligo, with over 300 attendees.

The conference focused on the impact of healthcare on our climate and how improvements can be made.  

Topics of discussion included initiatives to turn clinical waste into reusable needle bins and auditing inhaler use to reduce CO2 emissions.

Tony Canavan, REO HSE West and North West, said climate change is a health issue, and it’s important that the HSE makes that connection. 

“I’d like to thank the people who will pick up the baton and carry it and pass it on within our health services. I’m pleased that this region is showing leadership in relation to climate change, and by showing leadership, we are encouraging others to join us.”

John Fitzmaurice, HSE Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Sligo. Leitrim, South Donegal, and West Cavan said that simple interventions can have big results: “We are working on our Regional Green Plan, which will outline a structured approach to reducing our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, along with our planned actions over the next three years (covering the 2026 to 2029 period).” he said. 

“This three-year horizon is designed to strike a balance between delivering immediate reductions in some areas while building long-term capabilities in others.”

READ MORE: West Mayo GAA club seeks extension for development works

Public Health Specialist working with Trinity College Dublin and the HSE, Dr. Teresa O’Dowd, discussed how reducing the carbon footprint of inhaler prescribing is an important step in tackling healthcare’s contribution to climate change. Educational interventions were used to switch patients from high-carbon to low-carbon inhalers, resulting in an estimated carbon saving of 21,448kg of CO2.

Additionally, Professor Francis Finnucane, Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University, discussed the obesity crisis and environmental links. He said that the change in our food environment has changed eating patterns, and the use of pesticides is damaging our environment.  A solution to some of these issues, he recommended, is the adoption of a plant-based diet, the improvement of public transport and the development of more greenways.

Programme Manager for the HSE Climate Action and Sustainability Programme, Roisin Breen, discussed the HSE’s Green Plan which aims to deliver measurable carbon reduction, improve resilience, and embed sustainability into regional healthcare while her colleague Niall Walsh, Project Manager with the HSE Climate and Sustainability Programme said the focus of 2026 was the establishment of national forums to keep the climate conversation going.

Fiona Dowling, Commercial Director with Stericycle, described how they supply reusable sharps containers across 65 public and private hospitals in Ireland. These reusable containers, which themselves are made from recycled waste, can be reused 600 times after washing and decontamination. 

Ailbhe Healy, Water Stewardship Advisor, discussed the Water Stewardship Programme, which promotes the use of water as it is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial. This, she said, is achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that includes both site and catchment-based actions.

Declan McGoldrick, HSE Capital and Estates Energy Manager, outlined the HSE’s Deep Retrofit Programme to refurbish and upgrade HSE accommodation.

Finally, Dr Annmarie Crosse, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Coordinator, discussed placing communities at the centre of integrated climate and health action in Donegal. She outlined the importance of nature and health connections as ecological determinants within local healthy community plans.

READ MORE: Grand Marshals announced for north Mayo St Patrick's Day parade