Respiratory care has some of the biggest problems (inhalers) and many good solutions for sustainable healthcare.

Health Care’s Climate Footprint Report HCWH / ARUP

Health Care’s Climate Footprint: How the Health Sector Contributes to the Global Climate Crisis and Opportunities for Action.

September, 2019

Green Inhaler website

This patient- and clinician-facing website gives guidance on choosing inhalers with lower environmental impact - something which is now included in the BTS asthma guidelines.

Dr Alex Wilkinson

September, 2019

UNDP and SPHS member agencies seek consultancy to develop the Sustainable Procurement Index for Health (SPIH)

This is as a globally established, recognized and adaptable measurement tool for policy makers, manufacturers, suppliers, procurers, and health car

New BTS asthma guidelines encourage use of low-GWP inhalers

Section 8.6 of the new BTS/SIGN Guideline for the management of asthma highlights the environmental impact of metered dose inhalers (pMDI) and recommends that inhalers with low global-warming potential (GWP) should be used when likely to be equally effective.

British Thoracic Society

July, 2019

NICE inhaler decision aid - feedback anyone?

Does anyone have experience of using the NICE patient decision aid for inhalers (which includes a section on environmental impacts)?&nbsp

Asthma UK inhaler videos

Are you confident in teaching patients how to use their inhalers? The first step in improving environmental sustainability of inhaler use is to ensure that people use the correct technique to get the drug to where it is needed.

Asthma UK

July, 2019

Doctors call for nonviolent direct action over climate crisis

"More than 1,000 doctors including 40 professors, several eminent public health figures and past presidents of royal colleges are calling for wides

Climate advocacy networking

Doctors and all health professionals are highly respected.

Inhalers in primary care

Hi all,

Patient and Environmentally friendly spacer for Metered Dose Inhalers

Asthma summary

Asthma is very common. Almost 10% of people living in the European Union have a diagnosis of asthma. Among children, asthma is the most common chronic medical condition.

April, 2019

NICE patient decision aid for asthma inhalers

This is an information tool to help people with asthma and their healthcare professionals discuss their options for inhaler devices.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

April, 2019

NICE encourages use of greener asthma inhalers

"People with asthma will be helped to choose the inhaler that is best for them, and best for the environment, by a new patient decision aid from NI

QI Inhaler Project in Primary Care

Hi all,

Does anyone have experience of reducing MDI prescribing/use in a community GP setting?

Inhalers and NHS Long Term Plan

The NHS Long Term Plan, published earlier this month, makes two references to inhaler climate change

UN report addresses propellant gases in inhalers

A report has just been presented to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in respect of the Montreal Prot

United Nations Environment Programme

January, 2019

Alternative to pMDI? Reduced environmental impact of a reusable soft mist inhaler

Hänsel M, Bambach T, Wachtel H M32 Reduced environmental impact of a reusable soft mist inhaler. Thorax 2018; 73:A262.

Abstract

Hansel M et al. Thorax

December, 2018

Expert Working Group on reducing the climate change impact of inhalers

A national (English) working group has been formed to establish the approach and a potential target for reducing the climate change impact of

Moving beyond the air quality crisis

Realising the health benefits of acting on air pollution

This report on air pollution describes the current problem, the reasons it exists and the critical need to resolve it, and includes high level recommendations on the measures required to act on it.

UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

October, 2018

"Can a Whisper become a Roar" A call to action for the healthcare community

"As clinicians we are taught to value evidence based interventions that benefit health and wellbeing.

Outpatients: the future – adding value through sustainability

The Royal College of Physicians published a new report 'Outpatients: the future – adding value through sustainability' which seeks to re-evaluate the purpose of outpatient care and align those objectives with modern-day living and expectations.

November, 2018

Sustainability in QI - the time has come!

Health systems are in constant need of improvement - and in some cases total redesign.

Reducing the carbon footprint of hospital-based care

Nephrologist, Charlie Tomson, gives an overview of the challenge of reducing carbon in the NHS and potential solutions - from energy and waste reduction to Sustainable Care Pathways.

Tomson, C., Future Hospital Journal

February, 2015

Browse this Networks's Resources in the Resource Library

Natural resources footprint for NHS and social care

This is the most recent carbon/natural resources footprint of health and social care in England, based on 2017 data. Of note, the greenhouse gas emissions from metered dose inhalers are estimated at 0.85 Mt CO2e, which is around 3.2% of total emissions for the sector.

Sustainable Development Unit, NHS England & Public Health England

September, 2018

Sustainable inhaler prescribing driver diagram

This example driver diagram shows how principles of sustainable clinical practice can be applied to improve respiratory inhaler prescribing. Hopefully it shows a holistic approach (MDI>DPI is not the whole story...).

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

March, 2017

RCP video on NHS environmental impact

Short animation to raise awareness of the NHS contribution to environmental issues such as climate change and air pollution, and encourage health professionals to look for environmentally friendly ways to practise.

Royal College of Physicians

September, 2018

Making Sense of Social Prescription

The University of Westminster has published an excellent explanatory document on social prescription. It's a fantastic end to end resource with explanations of terminology, structures, different types of social prescription, and referral examples.

August, 2017

Top tips for mental health teams to improve respiratory outcomes for their clients

A ten-point summary of best practice for mental health teams to improve respiratory outcomes for people with mental health problems developed by the London Respiratory Network. This matters because:

London Respiratory Network

June, 2016

Reducing the carbon footprint of hospital-based care

Nephrologist, Charlie Tomson, gives an overview of the challenge of reducing carbon in the NHS and potential solutions - from energy and waste reduction to Sustainable Care Pathways.

Tomson, C., Future Hospital Journal

February, 2015

The impact of respiratory virtual clinics in primary care on responsible respiratory prescribing and inhaled corticosteroid withdrawal in patients with COPD: a feasibility study

Poster which was presented at the BTS winter meeting 2014.

King's Health Partners

January, 2015

Sustainable Respiratory Inhalers Programme - Table of Actions

Table of Actions for a Sustainable Respiratory Inhalers Programme - first created in consultation with Sustainable Respiratory Care Advisory Group in February 2013. This table can be updated as actions are completed or proposed.

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

February, 2013

Sustainable Respiratory Inhalers Programme - briefing note

The continued use of metered-dose inhalers in respiratory care will have a potentially catastrophic effect on global warming if production is not controlled, largely because these inhalers use potent green-house gas hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) as propellants.

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

March, 2013

Thorax editorial - Prevention is best: lessons from protecting the ozone layer

Published late last year in BMJ Thorax, editorial by Ashley Woodcock: "The Montreal Protocol was signed 25 years ago. As a result, the irreversible destruction of the ozone layer was prevented.

Ashley Woodcock

July, 2012

Calling all Q members (Health Foundation) with a passion for sustainability

Calling all sustainability friends… are you a Q member (Health Foundation)?

Sustainability in QI - the time has come!

Health systems are in constant need of improvement - and in some cases total redesign.

Air Pollution - GPs

Hello - Im a final year medical student doing a 2 week placement with CSH.

MPs call on NHS to reduce use of MDIs to tackle climate change

The Environmental Audit Committee has called on the Government, the NHS and manufacturers to reduce the production and use of metered dos

WFOT Launches Guiding Principles for Sustainability in Occupational Therapy

Last week saw the launch of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists publication ‘Sustainability Matters: Guiding Principles for Sustainabil

Call for submissions: heatwaves (adapting to climate change) select committee inquiry

The House of Commons Select Committee for the environment, the Environmental Audit Committee, is calling for evidence as part of its heatwave enqui

Summary of Climate and health session - All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change

This was a very research-rich event which clearly put climate change on the health 'to-do' list. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate

The Adult Health and Social Care Crisis - Green Infrastructure as Part of the Solution

I was asked to contribute a health-related article for a special Green Infrastructure themed edition of Town and Country Planning, the journal of t

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence Surveying its Environmental Impact

As a proof of concept project, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is exploring its guidance's environmental impact.

CSH event on innovation and sustainability

On the 26th July 2017, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) hosted a Centre for Sustainable Healthcare event on sustainability and innovati

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Featured in this Network

Sustainability in QI - the time has come!

Health systems are in constant need of improvement - and in some cases total redesign.

Reducing the carbon footprint of hospital-based care

Nephrologist, Charlie Tomson, gives an overview of the challenge of reducing carbon in the NHS and potential solutions - from energy and waste reduction to Sustainable Care Pathways.

Tomson, C., Future Hospital Journal

February, 2015