Medical students at the University of Sheffield have won a Modeshift National Sustainable Travel Award for their project working in partnership with the University, NHS Greener Practice, and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

A sustainability module which focused on NHS staff travel at the University of Sheffield has won Healthcare Engagement Project of the Year at the Modeshift awards, presented at the ceremony in Leeds on Tuesday 19 November. Selected from three finalists in the healthcare category, the project highlighted how innovative thinking can reshape sustainable practices in primary care.

Healthcare Engagement Project of the Year
Sponsored by Baileys Street Furniture Group – Foundry PCN / University of Sheffield Greener practice project – NHS Foundry PCN, Greener Practice, University of Sheffield Medical School

Whilst many large hospital trusts have sustainable travel plans, it remains unusual outside of these large healthcare settings. By collaborating with Primary Care Network staff and using the Green Impact for Health Toolkit, students looked at the travel needs of over 200 NHS staff to consider how health is about more than just healthcare. The project contributed to making Foundry PCN the first accredited on the Modeshift Platform in the UK.

The toolkit was also used by students on sustainability student-selected component projects for more clinical domains, such as green prescribing of asthma inhalers, with one regular metered dose asthma inhaler having the same carbon footprint as a car driving from Sheffield to London. This work contributes to the national mission to make the NHS the first zero-emission health service in the world, as described in Delivering a Net Zero NHS.

Expanding its reach, the project also included work for other GP practices in the North of Sheffield and contributed to pioneering practices across the city, including the advance of Green Cross & Birley Health Centre to a ‘Good’ accreditation status.

The module introduced students to impactful community organisations, broadening their understanding of sustainable and inclusive transport. Dr. Jo Maher NHS GP, who led the project, connected students with Sheffield Cycling 4 All, a Disability Sheffield project offering adaptive cycling sessions at Hillsborough Park. Additionally, they engaged with On Board Skate Park, an OFSTED alternative education provider that empowers young people through life skills training, qualifications, and pathways to employment.

Dr Jo Maher said: ‘This award is a testament to the impact of partnerships across organisations and student engagement in driving meaningful change. Medical students are highly motivated to make a difference especially when it comes to sustainability. There’s been fantastic engagement with the Green Impact for Health toolkit across the UK.

Government statistics show transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions, producing 26% of the UK’s total emissions in 2021. Projects such as this are steps in the right direction.

The collaboration in this project highlights the impact of integrating education with real-world challenges. The students will be doctors themselves in just a couple of years, but they don’t have to wait to make a difference, they can do so right now.’