BARNSLEY Hospital’s emergency department has earned national recognition for being environmentally-friendly.

They received the bronze award from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s GreenED programme.

The award recognises the department’s work to reduce its impact on the environment while continuing to provide safe, high‑quality care for patients. It also supports the NHS’s wider aim to reduce carbon emissions.

As part of the GreenED programme, staff have made a number of practical changes to how the department works.

A dedicated GreenED group was set up, bringing different teams together to focus on sustainability and share ideas.

Environmental awareness is now included in staff training, and information has been shared with patients to help everyone understand the link between health and the environment.

The team has improved how waste is sorted and recycled, reduced energy use on site, and taken steps to cut down the environmental impact of medicines and inhalers.

They have also reduced the use of single‑use plastics, switched to recycled paper, and supported remote working for non‑clinical shifts where possible.

Other changes have focused on avoiding unnecessary tests and treatments, helping to reduce waste while still ensuring patients receive the care they need.

Emergency medicine consultant Dr Jo Stone said: “We are thrilled to have received this bronze award in making care more environmentally friendly.

“It was a team effort rather than an individual achievement.

“We have worked collaboratively with medical and nursing teams, the sustainability group, administration colleagues, pharmacists, Barnsley Facilities Services and the procurement team, and are really proud of what we’ve achieved together.”