The Healthcare Infection Society is proud to endorse the new Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Environmental Sustainability Statement, developed and endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and organisations from across the health and care sector.

IPC is fundamental to safe and effective patient care. The statement provides leadership and direction for applying evidence-based IPC principles alongside the adoption of safe, lower-carbon and circular clinical practices that achieve good value for the health system.

The statement was published on 21 October 2026 and highlights how IPC provides the foundation for adopting clinical practices that support responsible resource use, environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience while maintaining patient safety.

By bringing together organisations from across the sector, the statement reinforces the importance of applying evidence-based IPC principles alongside sustainable clinical practices.

Sarah Adibi, CEO, Healthcare Infection Society:

"The Healthcare Infection Society is pleased to endorse this statement. Infection prevention and control is fundamental to safe, high-quality care and has an important role in supporting a more sustainable and resilient NHS.

Sustainability and patient safety should not be competing priorities. By applying evidence-based, proportionate approaches to infection risk, we can reduce unnecessary waste and resource use while maintaining high standards of patient care. HIS supports the collaborative approach set out in this statement and the

importance of ensuring that decisions about infection risk are evidence-based, clinically led and focused on patient safety."