Bold visions for a healthier planet and community

Fast-forward to community health in Kent and Medway in 2026 and what does it look like? Amy Rutland travels forward in time to take a peek at the healthcare of our communities, as we unveil our blueprint for a sustainable future and a healthier you...

Community hospitals run by renewable energy where local communities help develop our gardens and outside spaces, growing fruit and vegetables for our patients to eat.

Sounds like a pipe dream? It’s not.

It’s our vision for the future as we launch our first sustainability strategy. And it’s one we really want you to get involved in.

By 2026, KCHFT wants to:

• have 100 per cent green electricity across
  all its sites where possible
• generate 10 per cent of all energy use
  internally,
• have no waste going to landfill
• and achieve a 40 per cent reduction in our estate.

Chief Executive Paul Bentley said: “Our vision is a community that supports each other to live well – if we are to make that a reality we need a culture where we all become aware of the link between health, care and sustainability and how the actions we take contribute. So, our first strategy is an investment in the health and resilience of our communities, as well as our planet.”

We want to cut our carbon emission by 50 per cent by 2026. This year, our aim is a 10 per cent reduction and we want to achieve this by introducing bicycle parks in at least five sites, encouraging staff to take part in a bike scheme, tripling the number of electric vehicle charging points and investing in a carpool, where 25 per cent of vehicles will be electric.

As part of the plan, by 2026, KCHFT hopes to have award-winning gardens and outside spaces at all sites, where it can, and a small holding supplying produce to community hospital kitchens; providing employment opportunities to a wider range of groups. This space will also be used for therapy or rehabilitation.

The trust has taken its first steps to making its vision happen with planning under way for its first kitchen garden at Hawkhurst Community Hospital. This will be followed by similar gardens at KCHFT’s other community hospitals across Kent.

There will be planters filled with fruit, vegetables and herbs; all to be harvested and cooked into healthy meals for patients in our care.

There are two main strands between now and 2026. These are to protect resources and use them wisely, and to invest in staff and the community, developing knowledge and supporting opportunity.

Paul added: “We need you to make it happen – whether you are a colleague, patient, client, service user or a member of the public. We need your help educating, supporting and reviewing our processes and the barriers which prevent people making sustainable choices.”

So, if you think you can help us in any way, please get involved and show your support. Contact Hawkhurst Head Chef, Sarah Agyemang on sarah.agyemang@nhs.net.

From small seeds, grow mighty trees

To help our planned gardens to flourish, we are asking for donations from local communities.

We’re growing our first community hospital kitchen garden at Hawkhurst Community Hospital and we need your help to get it started. There are several ways you can get involved, including:

• donating plants and seedlings, including tomato plants, rhubarb crown, or herbs, such as parsley, basil, chives and coriander, or other vegetables such as
  radish, broccoli or beetroot
• providing plants to brighten up the space and growing plot, such as marigolds to help companion planting, making a commitment to not use chemicals or pesticides
• volunteering your time to help plant and manage the garden regularly, support with up keep and help with harvesting the produce later in the season
• helping to build raised beds and planters, if you have carpentry skills.

Head Chef at Hawkhurst Community Hospital Sarah Agyemang said: “We are so excited to be able to start growing our own vegetables and herbs for our patients. Growing our own produce means we can use the freshest ingredients straight from the garden.”

How we make this happen

As part of the sustainability work, five key areas have been identified:

1. Reducing nonessential journeys.
2. Managing and designing the trust’s buildings to create healthier spaces for patients and staff, with less reliance on burning fossil fuels.
3. Sourcing products locally and supporting suppliers and services to operate more sustainably to strengthen the resilience and economies of local communities.
4. Caring for wildlife and investing in outdoor spaces to develop healthy spaces for patients, staff and local communities.
5. Supporting and empowering the KCHFT workforce will identify opportunities for change and build a culture of sustainability.