Let’s Not Waste

Background and context

How can we minimise waste in all its forms across the health and social care sector?

The health and social care system in Wales is facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and the global climate emergency. In response, we must develop innovative ways to use all available resources more efficiently.  Reducing waste is a central aspect of the Welsh Government’s Decarbonisation Plan to achieve a net zero public sector by 2030.

About the Let’s Not Waste Programme

The Let’s Not Waste programme will focus upon three main aspects to help secure the necessary changes including:

• Reduce – products and services that are not essential
• Reuse – tools, equipment, and other resources
• Recycle – wherever possible to reduce waste and minimise the carbon footprint

The programme will be evolutionary and iterative to ensure we are sharing existing good practices and building upon innovative ideas as they evolve. It will provide a focus and concerted effort to engage people within their workplaces and communities, in achieving demonstrable reductions in waste. It will also create a network of working groups in Wales and draw on the innovative ideas of Bevan Exemplars, to catalyse a wider movement for change across health and care systems and services.

The programme will run from September 2022 to September 2024.

What A Waste!

Dealing with the issue of waste in health and care has been discussed by policy makers, politicians and healthcare professionals since the NHS was founded in 1948. This report calls for a focus on the problem of inappropriate waste in the delivery of health and social care in Wales and urgent action to address it. Reducing waste will play a crucial role in tackling the enormous challenges ahead and in developing more prudent and economically, socially, and sustainable services and support. There are already several good examples of how the 5 Rs’ (’Reduce, Reuse, Reprocessed, Renewable, recycle’) are informing practices in the NHS but more needs to be done.  It will need everyone to take responsibility and play a part.

Do you want to reduce waste in health and care?

The health and social care system in Wales is facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, and the global climate emergency. In response, we must develop innovative ways to use all available resources more efficiently.

Everyone can play a part in helping to reduce waste.  The Bevan Commission is establishing the Let’s Not Waste network to provide a focus and concerted effort to achieving demonstratable reduction in waste in health and care, and you are invited to join.

The Let’s Not Waste (LNW) network will be a national platform to share ideas, good practice, and collaborate on developing waste reduction solutions. This opportunity is open to all, both individuals and organisations interested in actively tackling waste in health and care, as well as those who would like to learn more about this timely and often misunderstood issue.

Launch Webinar

On 19 April 2023, we were delighted to be joined by 220 health and care professionals from across Wales to launch this programme. We were joined by some fantastic speakers including Health Minister Eluned Morgan, Professor Sir Don Berwick, Professor Sir Andy Haines and Richard Smith. Please see these speakers’ presentations below.