COP26 greener healthcare photography exhibition on tour in Prestwich
The NHS England photography exhibition, “Care for the future: delivering the world’s first net zero health service,” first unveiled at COP26, has arrived in Greater Manchester. The exhibition is being displayed at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) Headquarters, The Curve in Prestwich from Monday 7th February - Friday 11th March 2022.
The photography exhibition, first displayed in the Blue Zone of the COP26 venue in Glasgow and captured by portrait photographer, Justin Lambert, features NHS staff – from pharmacists to surgeons, mental health professionals to health visitors – who have pioneered greener healthcare initiatives for the benefit of their patients and the communities they serve.
Wayne Burrows, Specialist Services Network Matron at GMMH, features in this exhibition for his team’s work encouraging service users to get involved with The Green Health Walk at the Trust’s Prestwich Site.
The Green Health Walk is a marked route for staff, visitors and service users to enjoy the grounds, and promote physical and mental benefits of greenspace and exercise. The walk was constructed by Sow the City, a Manchester based not-for-profit, empowering people to grow and live sustainably, in collaboration with staff and service users at the Trust.
Wayne said: “Our Green Health Walk is about recognising our role in tackling climate change, while also recognising the positive impact green spaces can have on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Time out in nature can have an incredibly positive impact on your mental health. The walk provides a calming and nurturing experience for our service users, carers and staff.
“We have recently successfully bid for additional funding to more than double some of the walks features and will be working alongside our service users, carers and staff to expand the project in 2022, building on its current success and broadening the positive mental health benefits it provides.”
Visitors to the NHS “Care for the future: delivering the world’s first net zero health service” photography exhibition, will discover how greener healthcare is beginning to transform every area of healthcare, from the first climate-friendly birth through to cutting the delivery time of vital medical supplies by boat, and reducing harmful gases within one of the greenest operating theatres in the country.
Naomi Makin, Sustainability Manager at GMMH said: “As part of the Greener NHS Programme, the NHS has set targets to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040 for the emissions we control directly and by 2045 for the emissions we can influence.
“The Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, which includes GMMH, declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and since then has been delivering carbon reduction through active travel, electrified fleets, and removing single use plastics.
“Our Trust Green Plan was recently Board approved and provides the strategy and leadership for the Trust to reduce its emissions in line with NHS targets.
“This is a journey the whole Trust will engage with, improving models of care, medicines, buildings, transport and waste services to embed Sustainability in everything we do.”
Andrew Maloney, Deputy Chief Executive at GMMH said: "The Green Health Walk is a fantastic example of how green activity can enhance services user recovery and staff wellbeing. We're really proud to be featured and representing Greater Manchester in this Greener NHS photography exhibition and it's great that we have the opportunity to host the exhibition right here at the Trust."
The exhibition is open to the public and can be visited The Curve opening hours, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. For more information on visiting The Curve, please see: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/contact-us
