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

Dr Vince Mak speaks about value in respiratory prescribing

Vince Mak's talk presents an important opportunity to reduce environmental harm from use (and over-use) of respiratory inhalers, which have a huge carbon footprint due to the use of HFC propellants:

NHS London Respiratory Team Conference

October, 2012

Sustainable COPD Inhalers