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

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

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

New 'Active 10' app from PHE to get adults active

Nearly 1 in 4 people in England are classified as ‘inactive’, doing under 30 minutes of physical activity a week, and face the greatest risks to he

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

The Impact of Paper Procurement in the NHS.

The NHS has committed to reduce its carbon footprint but, aside from ensuring that legislative targets are reached, the benefits of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions are well documented. Yet the NHS faces increasing financial and service pressures; meaning that ‘green’ working is not always at the forefront of consideration. Many NHS organisations in England procure paper through the NHS Supply Chain Core Stationary list, which only contains paper produced from virgin (non-recycled) sources. As such, out of the 3.6 million reams of paper procured through NHS Supply Chain, only 29,000 were produced from recycled sources.

Green Nurse Network launched

Today CSH has launched the Green Nurse Network in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing, the Faculty of Heath & Human Sciences at Ply

Remediating hospital paper cup wastage - challenges and recommendations.

Remediating paper cup wastage in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford – A summary

Innovation and Sustainability - how to make it happen - 26th July event

On the 26th July 2017 the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and the Royal College of Psychiatrists will be hosting an event, “Innovation and Sustai

Work experience opportunity with Centre for Sustainable Healthcare: Reminder

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is looking for a dynamic, creative and analytical Research and Communications Officer (volunteer position)&nb

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Browse this Networks's Resources in the Resource Library

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

"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.

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