Hogeschool Leiden launches research line on ‘Climate-Resilient Healthcare’

Hogeschool Leiden has launched a new research line titled 'Climate-Resilient Healthcare'. The research line is led by associate professor Leontien van Wely, who is also the Living Lab Developer of the Medical Delta Living Lab 'Changemakers for sustainable healthcare'.

Within this research line, the focus is specifically on the role of nurses, “because they form the largest group of healthcare professionals and are in very direct contact with vulnerable people in our society,” says Van Wely. “They are uniquely positioned to recognize when someone is at risk, and to support patients and their families in better protecting themselves against, for example, heat.”

At present, there is still very little attention for this topic in nursing education and practice. (Future) nurses lack awareness, nursing leadership, competencies, and practical tools to help drive the transition toward climate-resilient healthcare. The research is part of the Nursing Leadership research group of the Knowledge Centre Vitality and Self-Management (known within the university of applied sciences as KC VEER).

The projects focus on three practical levels:

• Direct patient care: How can nurses identify vulnerable groups, provide education and support, and reduce vulnerability to heat-related risks?
• Organization of care: How can care processes be adapted during weather-related threats? For example, how can better protocols be developed to respond to heatwaves and ensure continuity and quality of care?
• Smart collaborations: How can healthcare work beyond its own boundaries, for example by using technology for early warning systems and risk detection tools, or by working with experts in technology or urban greening to make patients’ environments safer and cooler?

In the initial phase, the research line will focus primarily on the most urgent current challenge: preventing health problems caused by extreme heat.

Need for change

“The need for this research line is urgent,” says Van Wely. “Worldwide, the climate crisis is considered the most important health crisis of this century. In the Netherlands as well, we see that vulnerable groups such as older adults and people with chronic conditions are increasingly affected by climate change. Think of heart conditions or respiratory problems that worsen during heatwaves.”

At the same time, healthcare is not yet sufficiently prepared for these increasing weather extremes. Moreover, the sector itself contributes to the climate crisis: while healthcare professionals care for patients, they operate within a system that accounts for around 7% of national CO₂ emissions—more than Dutch aviation in 2025 (6.6%). Van Wely, “there is therefore an urgent need for a fundamental shift: we must move toward care that protects patients without further burdening the planet.”

Dr. Leontien van Wely will further develop this theme in her role as associate professor in the coming years. She works closely with professor of Nursing Leadership Kim Verhaegh, who is also program lead of the Medical Delta Living Lab 'Changemakers for sustainable healthcare'.

Their shared goal is to strengthen the agency and leadership of (future) nurses in driving the transition toward climate-resilient healthcare. By equipping them with the right knowledge and skills, nurses can take a more confident leadership role in this necessary transformation, ultimately aiming to protect the health of vulnerable groups now and in the future from the impacts of climate change.

Read more here (in Dutch): Zorg voor de toekomst: Nieuwe onderzoekslijn