News in brief
Support the nation ’ s annual celebration of recycling
EDB strategy – what next ?
Thanks to everyone who shared their feedback on our draft Equity , Diversity and Belonging strategy . Now that the consultation is closed , our independent research organisation , Enventure Research , will review and analyse the data . We ’ ll then review the recommendations and create the final version . Our Senior Leadership Team and BAOT / RCOT Council will then approve it and we aim to publish the final strategy by the end of November 2023 .
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The next World Values Day is Thursday 19 October 2023 . This is an annual campaign to increase the awareness and practice of values around the world . Values are what matter most to us . They motivate and guide us . They are the passion in our hearts , the reason we do the things we do . In a world that can feel increasingly divided , values help unite us . They are the glue holding together our communities and wider society . This year ’ s campaign theme is ‘ Values Bring Us Together ’. So , on World Values Day , people are being urged to concentrate on what brings us together ; to put our values into action , reaching across the growing barriers that divide us , to build stronger communities and a more united world . Join the conversation at # WorldValuesDay or visit www . worldvaluesday . com .
2024 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecturer announced
RCOT is excited to introduce Professor Katrina Bannigan as the speaker for our 2024 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture . With over 26 years of expertise , Professor Bannigan is an internationally renowned occupational therapist , researcher and educator . You ’ ll be able to hear her lecture for free in April 2024 , but in the meantime , you can visit the website to find out more bit . ly / 3PsE4NT .
This year ’ s national Recycle Week takes place on 16-22 October and last year , 54 NHS and 14 other organisations joined forces to use this national event to great effect , collectively promoting their Walking Aids Reuse Schemes and raising public awareness .
According to NHS England guidance , walking aids , such as walking sticks , frames , rollators and crutches , can be safely refurbished and reused repeatedly . As identified in the Delivering a net zero National Health Service report , reusing crutches , frames and walking sticks provide an excellent opportunity for carbon savings , due to the high greenhouse gas intensity of aluminium manufacture .
According to NHS England guidance , walking aids , such as walking sticks , frames , rollators and crutches , can be safely refurbished and reused repeatedly .”
In addition to reducing carbon emissions , increasing the amount that are returned and reused can also help improve access for patients and save money :
• If just two out of every five walking aids were returned , the average hospital could save up to £ 46,000 per year .
• Reusing a refurbished walking aid is on average 98 % lower in carbon emissions than using a new walking aid .
• Increasing the return rate over the next three years could reduce NHS carbon emissions by 7,400 tonnes of carbon emissions , equivalent to 281,397 car trips from London to Bristol .
See pages 14-17 for our sustainability focus . To find out more about 2023 ’ s national Recycle Week visit bit . ly / 44zVmx6 . For more on walking aid reuse visit bit . ly / 3sJ4l1s . To be added to the Walking Aids Reuse distribution list england . ccf-sustainability @ nhs . net .
8 OTnews September 2023