Galway Hospice Foundation First to Achieve CHKS Green Award

As we mark Earth Day this 22nd April, Galway Hospice Foundation is proud to announce that it has become the first organisation to achieve the CHKS Green Award, recognising its commitment to environmental sustainability in the delivery of specialist palliative care across its Galway and Mayo sites.

The award acknowledges organisations that demonstrate measurable progress in reducing their environmental impact while maintaining high standards of patient care — showing that quality care and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

At Galway and Mayo Hospices, sustainability has become part of how care is delivered every day. From energy use to waste management and transport, changes across the organisation are helping to reduce environmental impact while supporting patients, families and staff.

Recent initiatives include:

• Saving 53 tonnes of carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures
• Installing 320 solar panels, generating renewable energy
• Transitioning to hybrid and electric vehicles
• Introducing paper-light systems to reduce resource use
• Implementing composting initiatives, with food waste reused to support hospice gardens

These actions are part of a broader, ongoing effort to embed sustainability across all areas of the organisation.

Brian Nally, Maintenance and Facilities Manager and member of the Green Committee, said: “Being sustainable isn’t about being perfect. It’s about doing what we can, where we are, with what we have. In healthcare, that means looking at how we deliver care in a way that is responsible, thoughtful, and supports both people and the environment.”

The CHKS Green Award reflects this approach, recognising organisations that are actively working towards more sustainable models of healthcare delivery.

At Galway and Mayo Hospices, this work is supported by a dedicated Green Committee, bringing together staff from across the organisation to continue building awareness, identifying opportunities for improvement, and supporting practical changes.

The hospice’s approach is rooted in its core belief: that care is holistic. It is about supporting people through life-limiting illness with dignity and compassion — and recognising that the environment around us is part of that care.

While the award marks an important milestone, it also represents a step in an ongoing journey. Because at Galway Hospice Foundation, caring for people and caring for the planet go hand in hand.