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

Words of advice for President Trump

Bravo to Nick Hopkinson and co-authors of this letter on "Climate Change and Lung Health: the challenge for a new president" published in Thorax la

Ideas for Quality Improvement visits?

CSH is in the process of applying to run a programme involving a series of visits to projects that have been actively engaged in quality

Carbon footprint of GSK inhalers

This isn't widely available but GSK have given it to me so I'm sharing it.

Choosing Wisely

On the 24th October 2016 the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges brought out a report

Air quality ruling

This week the High Court found the government's action on air quality to be inadequate. In the second successful case against the government

Breathing the fresh air of co-benefits

Recently it feels like air pollution's spread beyond the concern of those who care about public health to become a more mainstream issue.

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

Air quality posing a 'very high risk' to health at the Fort McMurray wildfire

Is Alberta another very sobering 'right now' example of climate change affecting health? See the Canadian Government's assessment of the air

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

Royal College of Physicians looking for Clinical Lead: Sustainability (part time)

Exciting developments at the RCP - and an exciting opportunity for a consultant physician...

UK health services unprepared for climate change, warns major new health alliance

UK health services are currently unprepared for the risks posed by climate change, warns a major new health alliance launching today.

Health sector hits first target in combating climate change - SDU report

The health sector is over the first hurdle in the race to reach carbon reduction targets and help limit the effects of climate change.

Breathlessness, physical activity and sustainability of healthcare - letter

Only just came across this letter by Nick Hopkinson and colleague to the European Respiratory Journal last January, highlighting the importance of

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

Committee on Climate Change report and SDU call for NHS feedback on overheating in wards

The Committee on Climate Change has produced a recent report entitled 'Managing climate risks to well-being and the economy'

Respiratory fellowship plans - can you help

We (CSH) are looking for funds for a 2-year Sustainable Respiratory Care Fellow who would work with us and this Network on:

BMJ editorial - Inhaled drugs and global warming: time to shift to dry powder inhalers

As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels top 400 parts per million, an editorial in this week's BMJ draws attention to the impact of respiratory inhalers on global warming.

CleanMed 2013 - call for case studies

Plans underway for a Sustainable Respiratory Inhalers Programme

The continued use of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) in respiratory care will have a potentially serious effect on global warming if production is not controlled, largely because these inhalers use potent green-house gas hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) as propellants. A cost-effective and safe alternative is available in the form of Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs), and we propose a programme to change prescribing practices such that DPIs are used in preference to HFC-driven inhalers where not clinically contra-indicated.

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

Pages

Browse this Networks's Resources in the Resource Library

Millions of Nurses Call The World To Action #HealthyRecovery

From the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, this a short video (see link below) which accompanies the

May, 2020

Prescribing Movement resource

This toolkit gives you everything you need for a 1 minute, 5 minute and even more minute conversation, complete with step-by-step guides, behavioural change insights and all the evidence to back it up.

Moving Medicine

January, 2020

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

AHP Sustainability Survey: Deadline Extended Until 31st July

NHS Improvement's AHP Sustainability Survey has 11 questions and should take about 5-15 minutes to complete:

BTS Position Statement on The Environment and Lung Health 2020

This was released in March of this year, unfortunately I think I and many others were a bit distracted by COVID, but it is definitely worth a read

AHP Sustainability Survey: Four Days Left

NHS Improvement's AHP Sustainability Survey is designed to help understand how Allied Health Professionals are addressing sustainability issue

FINAL CALL: Free training workshop on advising patients about air pollution

It your last chance to join a free training workshop on how to advise patients on air pollution. Our final workshop of this series wil

Advising on air pollution - a workshop with Prof Stephen Holgate

Want to help protect your patients from air pollution, but don't know where to start?

New GP contract incentivises lower carbon inhalers

The new GP contract published last week includes a new incentive to encourage lower carbon inhalers.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: CSH Education Lead for Quality Improvement

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is recruiting to a new full-time, permanent position based at least two days per week in our office in Oxford. Application deadline 10 February.

We're scaling up to carbon-neutral healthcare

The recent huge interest in climate change has created an unprecedented demand for our charity to help people to take action.

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

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Carbon Footprinting for Healthcare

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Ben Whittaker posted AHP Sustainability Survey: Deadline Extended Until 31st July in the Occupational Therapy Susnet, Commissioning Sustainable Healthcare, Sustainable Operating Theatres, Green Nephrology, Education for Sustainable Healthcare , Sustainable Primary Care, Sustainable Respiratory Care, Psych Susnet, Dental Susnet, EyeHealth Susnet, Green Nurse Network, Critical Care Susnet, Green Endoscopy, and Green Space and Health groups.

Thu, 7/2/2020 - 5:18pm

Jennifer Nixon posted BTS Position Statement on The Environment and Lung Health 2020 in the Sustainable Respiratory Care network

Sat, 6/27/2020 - 4:00pm

Ben Whittaker posted AHP Sustainability Survey: Four Days Left in the Occupational Therapy Susnet, Commissioning Sustainable Healthcare, Sustainable Operating Theatres, Green Nephrology, Education for Sustainable Healthcare , Sustainable Primary Care, Sustainable Respiratory Care, Psych Susnet, and EyeHealth Susnet groups.

Fri, 6/26/2020 - 4:58pm

Ben Whittaker created National Allied Health Professions Sustainability Webinar in the Occupational Therapy Susnet, Commissioning Sustainable Healthcare, Sustainable Operating Theatres, Green Nephrology, Education for Sustainable Healthcare , Sustainable Primary Care, Sustainable Respiratory Care, Psych Susnet, and EyeHealth Susnet groups.

Mon, 6/15/2020 - 2:02pm

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