New Infection Prevention and Control Environmental Sustainability Statement

NHS Supply Chain is proud to endorse the new Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Environmental Sustainability Statement, developed and endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and organisations from across the health and care sector.

IPC is fundamental to safe and effective patient care. The statement provides leadership and direction for applying evidence-based IPC principles alongside the adoption of safe, lower-carbon and circular clinical practices that achieve good value for the health system.

The statement highlights how IPC provides the foundation for adopting clinical practices that support responsible resource use, environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience while maintaining patient safety.

By bringing together organisations from across the sector, the statement reinforces the importance of applying evidence-based IPC principles alongside sustainable clinical practices.

Commenting on the statement, Michelle Johnson, our Clinical Executive Director, and Heidi Barnard, our Head of Sustainability, said:

We are proud to support the national Infection Prevention, Control (IPC) statement on sustainability, having worked alongside partners on its development.

Infection prevention and control play a vital role in delivering safe, high-quality care for patients. At the same time, we have a responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of health and care services. This statement shows how we can strengthen both priorities together.

Working with partners across healthcare and industry we have developed a shared commitment to helping people working in health and care make informed decisions that support patient safety, responsible resource use, and long-term sustainability. By bringing together expertise and evidence, we can encourage innovation, support better outcomes, and help build a more sustainable future for health and care. Collaboration is key to making this happen. Together, we can ensure infection prevention and control considerations remain at the heart of health care product design, procurement, and use, while supporting the transition to more sustainable solutions.