St James’s Hospital has become Dublin’s first acute hospital to earn a green flag for leadership in sustainable healthcare.

The hospital is also “on track” to meet 2030 climate targets with a 34 per cent improvement in energy efficiency and a 34 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.

The award is part of the green campus programme which is operated by An Taisce. The programme aims to support hospitals, universities and other institutions in embedding sustainability across their operations.

Since registering for the programme in 2018, the hospital has implemented the programme’s seven-step framework.

Energy efficiency in the hospital has improved by 34 per cent through a range of measures including; LED lighting upgrades, high efficiency pumps, and the installation of a combined heat and power plant.  There has been a corresponding fall in energy related carbon emissions of 34 per cent.

In addition, through metering, monitoring, and managing its usage, the hospital has reduced water consumption by 42 per cent.  The hospital has also seen a significant increase in the number of staff commuting sustainably to the campus via public transport and bicycle.

“This green flag is more than a symbol of sustainability- it reflects our deep commitment to ensuring we adopt greener practices in the delivery of our patient-centered care,” said CEO of St James’s Hospital, Prof Mary Day.

“We are proud to lead by example; our campus is evolving into a modern- co-located health and research hub, where environmental responsibility and clinical excellence go hand in hand. This Green Flag is only the beginning of our sustainability journey.”

The Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (TSJCI) has become the first and only cancer centre in Ireland to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre.

The award comes from the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). OECI accreditation signifies that a cancer centre has met or exceeded robust standards in cancer care, research and education as determined by the OECI accreditation board.

“I am really proud to celebrate the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute’s remarkable achievement in becoming Ireland’s first and only accredited comprehensive cancer centre,” Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said today. “This prestigious recognition, by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes, is a testament to the dedication and excellence of the teams at St James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin.”

Speaking about the award, Prof John Kennedy, Medical Director of TSJCI, said: “Patients can be confident that the care they receive in such an institution has been evaluated by international experts and found to be of the highest quality.”

Prof Maeve Lowery, Academic Director TSJCI, stated that this designation “demonstrates that our achievements in cancer research, education and patient care are equal to the top centres in Europe”.

TSJCI was the first cancer centre in Ireland to be accredited by the OECI in 2019. Its new elevated status comes after rigorous evaluation by the OECI, adherence to best practice in cancer care, research and education and close cooperation between St James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin and St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network.