| With the largest workforce and property portfolio in Europe and a budget of over £96 million, the NHS has the potential to make a significant contribution to people's health by supporting strong local economies, social cohesion and a healthy environment. The Sustainable Development Commission's Healthy Futures programme helps the NHS and wider health sector explore how it can promote improved health and stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities. | | The new Health, place and nature knowledge base and slide-set explore ways of creating and maintaining natural and built environments that respect environmental limits and promote strong communities and physical activity. They show how this can improve opportunities for health. | | | | | | | Good corporate citizenship discussion network | | Need some good advice? Looking for best practice? Or some moral support? Join our online questions and answers discussion network and learn from other NHS colleagues working to become good corporate citizens. Enter your email address below to register. | | | |  | Your top tip from the last newsletter:
"Take advantage of the Cycle to Work scheme, which allows employers to provide bikes to their staff as a tax-free benefit."
Read how NHS South West implemented this scheme.
"A Free Ride?" - read about the survey carried out by SPOKES - the NHS Cycling network - who asked every NHS Trust what rate of reimbursement they pay for staff who cycle for work related journeys.
Write your top tips in the box below and you could get yours included in the next newsletter. | |
| Our Team
| | The Healthy Futures programme is chaired by Anna Coote, Lead Commissioner for Health. If you have any questions or would like to contribute, please contact Craig Myers (Team Leader) or Larissa Lockwood (Policy Analyst) or Maria Arnold (Policy Analyst). | To receive quarterly Healthy Futures updates on health and sustainable development, please contact Edna Elcome
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| | Publications | 
Healthy Futures #7: The NHS and Climate Change looks at why and how the NHS can take serious action against climate change, drawing from examples of NHS trusts demonstrating significant results. Download a copy or order free hard copies from Edna Elcome. |
| | See our Healthy Futures publications on Healthy and Sustainable - The NHS as a good corporate citizen, sustainable development, food, buildings, good corporate citizenship, sustainable transport, and active travel and the natural environment, health and well-being in our archive. | | | | News | | Sustaining a Healthy Future - Taking Action on Climate Change is a new guide for the health sector from the Faculty of Public Health on the importance of tackling climate change, and how prioritising action makes good business sense. |
| | Department of Health/Health Protection Agency report on The Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK is out now. |
| | Presentations from recent Royal College of Physicians event on climate change and its impacts on health available online. |
| | NICE Physical activity and environment guidance out now on the promotion and creation of physical environments that support increased levels of physical activity. |
| | NICE Public Health Programme Guidance on Community Engagement has been published to support those working with and involving communities in decisions on health improvement. |
| | The 26th January edition of the BMJ focuses on climate change: what can doctors do, including an interview with Anna Coote. |
| | A record £140 million Government investment in cycling, announced by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, is set to help half a million children cycle safely and a generation of adults rediscover their bikes. |
| | Santa the pole is melting: Alan Maryon-Davies writes in Environmental Health News. | | | | Events |
| | 7th April: WHO World Health Day 2008 is to focus on protecting health from climate change. Join organisations from around the world hosting activities to establish greater awareness and public understanding of health consequences of climate change. |
| | 21st April: Global health: current issues, future trends and foreign policy, RCP, London. |
| | | | Poll Results | | | Results from the last poll, when we asked you: Is your printer set to double-sided? |  | | |
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