As the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible across Scotland, NHSScotland must adapt to protect both the health of the population and the services we provide. We take a look at climate adaptation work taking place across NHSScotland.  

Climate change – including more frequent extreme weather events and longer-term shifts in environmental conditions – is not just an environmental issue. It is a public health challenge that affects how, where, and when care is delivered.

As Evelin Bocanegra, Sustainability Manager (Adaptation and Resilience), NHSScotland Assure explains: “Adapting to these changes means preparing our systems, infrastructure and workforce to respond to new and growing risks.  

“From service disruption caused by flooding and heatwaves to the rising burden of climate-sensitive health conditions, NHSScotland must build resilience across all levels.  

“We are strengthening our climate adaptation work in a number of ways, in alignment with national priorities and in support of a healthier, more sustainable future.” 

New climate mapping tool launched

NHSScotland has launched a new NHSScotland Climate Mapping Tool, designed to help us all explore climate risk data, understand how it affects healthcare infrastructure and service continuity, and support adaptation planning.  

The tool brings together a range of national datasets, such as SEPA flood risk maps, UKCP18 maps and site-specific NHS information, allowing users to visualise climate-related hazards in relation to healthcare infrastructure and services. 

It is designed for use by a wide range of NHSScotland staff, including those working in sustainability, estates, resilience, public health, and planning. For more information and links to support resources, visit the resources page of our Sustainability Action SharePoint site (NHSScotland staff only).  

NHSScotland Assure joins new national climate resilience forum

NHSScotland Assure has joined forces with more than 20 organisations across Scotland as part of a new national forum which aims to address the risks, we all face from climate change and extreme weather events.   

Forum members will collaborate on co-developing, co-funding, and co-delivering tactical climate adaptation and resilience initiatives that support infrastructure operators and owners to prepare for Scotland’s changing climate. 

Julie Critchley, Director of NHSScotland Assure said: “NHSScotland Assure delivers a coordinated approach to the improvement of risk management and quality in the healthcare environment across NHSScotland.  

” Supporting health boards to adapt to climate-related risks forms an important part of this – so collaborating with partners at a national level will inform the support we provide to boards across Scotland and help us all work collectively to achieve our shared adaptation goals.” 

National Adaptation Group

The recently-established NHSScotland National Adaptation Group (NAG) plays a key role in supporting the health sector’s response to the impacts of climate change.  

The NAG brings together representatives from NHSScotland Assure, the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NHS boards, the Resilience Network, and other key partners.  

The group aims to increase the adaptative capacity and strengthen the resilience of the health system across Scotland by: 

• aligning work across organisations to support a more coordinated approach to climate adaptation 

• sharing expertise 

• promoting sustainable, long-term planning as part of a proactive, whole-system approach to adaptation, connecting national priorities with local action and operational realities 

Update on the health impact assessments for SNAP3

Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a health impact assessment on the third Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3) in September 2024. The assessment was carried out on the draft SNAP3, during the consultation period and involved holding participatory workshops for four out of the five SNAP3 outcomes.  

Now, PHS has published detailed reports from each of the four workshops: Nature Connects, Communities, Public Services and Infrastructure, and Business, Economy and Industry. These supplementary reports provide a more detailed overview of the issues raised in the workshop, in relation to potential impacts across populations and determinants of health. 

More information about the ways that climate change and adaptation responses can affect health and health inequalities can be found in Working together to build climate-resilient, healthy and equitable places: A briefing for local government and partners. 

Flood risk assessments

NHSScotland Assure commissioned updated flood risk assessments to evaluate the exposure of acute sites to flooding. Building on the original assessments carried out in 2015, this project incorporated the latest SEPA Flood Maps to provide a more accurate and current picture of flood risk.  

The assessments aim to support NHS boards in making informed decisions and prioritising adaptation measures to protect vital healthcare infrastructure and services from future flood events. 

These flood risk reviews identified acute sites most vulnerable to flooding. Using several sources of flood mapping data, each site was assessed. Some were then  identified as requiring further investigation and taken forward for a simple flood risk assessment. For these sites, a series of adaptation actions have been suggested to mitigate the risk.

How can I find out more about adaptation?

Visit the Adaptation Scotland website to learn more. You can also find out more about how we can all take steps to reduce the impacts of severe weather on our everyday lives by reading the guide on the Net Zero Nation website. 

Photo by Matt Palmer