4.7 Sustainability

To promote a sustainable health and social care system, we need to think about the cost, the environment and fairness. Technologies should generate benefits that outweigh costs. When selecting technologies it is important to evaluate clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This involves assessing factors such as therapeutic benefits, potential to improve health outcomes and cost relative to effectiveness compared to alternative treatments. By considering both the clinical benefits and the cost-effectiveness of a new technology a health and social care organisation can ensure that it will provide value for money and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of the population.

We can also integrate approaches that support sustainability and reduce greenhouse gases. Healthcare organisations can reduce paper usage, implement recycling systems and select energy-efficient technology. ‘Green IT’ is the term used to refer to the use of technology in an environmentally sustainable manner and to minimise the environmental impact of IT systems. This involves energy efficiency, reducing electronic waste, responsible disposal practices and adopting other eco-friendly practices to mitigate the environmental footprint of IT infrastructure and operations. Green IT offers dual benefits of environmental sustainability and cost-efficiency. By optimising energy consumption and reducing electronic waste, health and social care organisations can lower their carbon footprint and operational expenses. Incorporating sustainability approaches not only creates value but demonstrates corporate social responsibility. Investments in energy-saving technologies and cloud-based services also provide scalability and flexibility. Green IT in healthcare includes digitising records and imaging and reducing paper. Use of cloud-based services consolidates servers, reducing energy consumption and costs. Telehealth and remote monitoring reduce patient travel, minimising carbon emissions and optimising resource use.