Green Health Network Event
Green Health and Infection Prevention: Understanding Risk and Finding Practical Solutions
Green Health activities offer valuable opportunities to support wellbeing, recovery, social connection and access to nature. Delivering these activities within healthcare environments also requires a clear understanding of potential infection risks and how they can be managed proportionately.
This interactive online session will examine real-life case studies involving gardens, natural materials and outdoor activities in healthcare settings. We will explore the challenges that arose, the specific risks or concerns identified, the practical mitigations considered, and what ultimately helped teams move towards a safe and workable solution.
By learning from situations that others have encountered, we will consider:
- What worked and why
- What could have been approached differently
- Which lessons might be transferable to other settings
- What may depend on the particular patient group, activity or clinical environment
- How Green Health practitioners can prepare for more informed and constructive conversations with colleagues
The session is designed to strengthen our own understanding and confidence. It will help us identify risks more clearly, develop proportionate mitigations and communicate proposals effectively with infection prevention, clinical, estates and facilities colleagues.
This is a peer-learning session and will not provide infection prevention approval or replace local specialist guidance. Instead, it will help participants ask better questions, share practical learning and become better prepared partners in developing safe and beneficial Green Health activities.
- Date: Wednesday 18th November 2026
- Time: 12 midday to 1pm
- Location: Online meeting (a calendar invite with the Teams link will be sent to you, after signing up to our network)
1pm onward – Site Visit: Stick around after the main session to tour the grounds with us and visit some of the recent, incredible artworks integrated into the local landscape.
Join our network to attend!
If you haven’t already, make sure you are signed up to our Green Health Network to receive your invitation. After joining our network we will send you diary invites for our upcoming events, including this one!
Who is it for?
These network sessions are suitable for current network members and any NHS Lothian staff or voluntary sector partners who feel passionately about the benefits of nature and their potential to improve health and tackle climate change.
Why should I attend?
Our Green Health Network focuses on connecting people, fostering collaboration, and sharing ideas across the network. We always aim to facilitate meaningful discussions and explore ways to support the network’s shared goals of improving wellbeing, sharing knowledge, and fostering partnerships.
Our Green Health events are a great way to:
- Contribute to professional development
- Share ideas and learning
- Make connections with others
- Learn from real-life case studies
Upcoming dates
We run a series of events throughout the year to connect people and practice across NHS Lothian and beyond. We will be featuring some of the amazing projects that are already happening and hear about how people have collaborated to overcome some of the barriers.
Our next events will be:
- 9th March 2027
- 12th May 2027 – Joint Tonic Arts and Green Health event
Not joined our Network yet?
If you feel passionately about the benefits of nature and its potential to improve health and tackle climate change, then our Green Health Network is a great way to share ideas, connect with others and do some professional development.
Get a feel for some of the things we discuss at our networking events by watching our short videos below:
Creating Green Breathing Spaces
In this short recording, Inga Cosway from the Work Well team, gives us some insight into the work being undertaken to develop the “New Royal Mile” at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and also introduces the new ‘Put Your Emotional PPE On’ campaign.
Watch here
Using the NHS Estate for Therapeutic Activities
In this short recording, Linda Walker, Head Occupational Therapist for Adult, Forensic and Older People’s Health Services shares her experience of working from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital to deliver therapeutic activities on NHS grounds.
Watch here
The Transitional Power of Gardens
In this short recording, Chris Jones, Patient Engagement Coordinator with Cyrenians, working at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Astley Ainslie Hospital, talks about work undertaken to develop meaningful and active participation in different areas of hospital grounds.
Watch here
Making Space for Nature
In this short recording, Jim Scott, Grounds Supervisor at the Western General Hospital, talks about what goes on behind the scenes.
Watch here