University of St Andrews

Living lab for a sustainable NHS: An iterative project to develop interacting networks of medical students and staff across Scottish medical schools

The two interlinking networks of medical students and staff will work together to:

• Develop educational tools to shape the thinking of medical students and so future doctors, around changes that can be made in the approach, process and practice of medicine to ensure sustainability.
• Support student opportunities for learning from thought leaders in medical sustainability, and from each other.
• Support and create opportunities for students to gain practical experience of national sustainability projects such as the National Green Theatre Programme, and for them to gain experience of research into sustainability in medicine.
• Influence local NHS boards in the promotion of sustainable practice in NHS business.
• Lobby for medical education grants to develop and influence the way sustainability is taught to students and medical staff.

Top 3 Learnings

1. Living labs are fantastic at harnessing unseen ideas and taking the project in new directions.
2. Students lead much better when we allow them to lead.
3. Climate change is an emergency, so it is difficult to plan for change that will happen in 5-10 years.