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

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

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'

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

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

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

Cradle to Gate

Greenhouse Gas Accounting Sector Guidance for Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Devices

A consortium of major global companies has been working with the NHS SDU to agree standards for reporting of carbon equivalents emissions for the manufacture of drugs and medical devices. The report was launched on Friday 30th Nov 2012 at St Thomas' Hospital in London and is a real achievement, albeit only the beginning of a lot more work.

Sustainable COPD Inhalers

The document is a framework for a review of key issues in inhaler use leading to 3 action points.

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

July, 2012

Disruption as opportunity

David Pencheon has been quoted recently as seeing opportunity in the disruption caused by the passing of the Health and Social Care Act.

Article n the Guardian on pharmaceutical waste in the NHS

Not sure whether people have seen this article in the Guardian:

Pages

Browse this Networks's Resources in the Resource Library

Toolkit to support paediatricians approaching their local councils about air pollution

An excellent resource produced by RCPCH climate change working group- focused on action in the UK but could be useful for others too.

RCPCH climate change working group

May, 2022

How to sign up, post and search on CSH Networks

Take a look at our handy one page guide that shows you:

how to sign up to the CSH Networks
how to create posts, resources and events
3 easy ways to seach for content

April, 2022

NHS providers & the Government’s Social Value Model

From 1st April, all NHS providers are required to adopt the Government’s Social Value Model (Procurement Policy Note 06/20) and include a minimum of 10% weighting on net zero and social value into tenders.

March, 2022

Integrating planetary health into clinical guidelines - Lancet Planetary Health

In this review of 49 clinical guidelines from British, Chinese, Indian, Brazilian, Australian, European, German, and US-American medical associations, the authors found keywords related to planetary health (eg, climate change, air pollution, and emissions) were found in fewer than 5%.

March, 2022

Pharmacy inhaler disposal resources

Resources for pharmacists and patients on environmentally-safe disposal of inhalers.

Background:

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)

August, 2021

Inhalers information + training PrescQIPP

This bulletin provides useful information to guide inhaler prescribing

PrescQIPP also holds webinars and training

November, 2021

Greener Practice Guide to Inhaler Prescribing

Greener Practice, with review and endorsement by the NHS England and NHS Improvement Inhaler Working Group, Asthma UK, and the British Lung Foundation, have produced this comprehensive and excellent guide,

Greener Practice

November, 2021

Sustainable inhalers infographics

Information and infographics for reducing the environmental impact of inhalers

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Systems, University of Toronto

November, 2021

Greener AHP Hub

The Greener AHP Hub is a resource for Allied Health Professionals. It provides information and clear actionable steps which AHPs can take to improve their own environmental sustainability. The hub complements the

NHS England

October, 2021

Remote Consultations: Do they reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions? Your Guide to calculating the Answer

This guide and carbon calculator have been developed by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in collaboration with PD Transformation and funded through Q by the Health Foundation and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

September, 2021

Reusable PPE webinar from Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care

Safety, Security and Sustainability: Towards a Reusable PPE System for Canadian Health Care

Nominations are open for the first Greener AHP Award

This year's Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) Awards has the category of Greener AHP Award for the first time.

New postgraduate module - Sustainable Healthcare Principles

The University of Brighton

Leeds Green Ward Competition anticipates an annual reduction of 8,594.8 kgCO2e

Yesterday CSH hosted the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Green Ward Competition showcase and awards ceremony.

Cutting unnecessary glove use: New guidance issued on glove use and selection

Clear guidance on glove use and selection is included in the new NHS 'National infection prevention and control manual for England'

Glove Awareness Week resources: 2 May to 6 May 2022

Glove Awareness Week runs from the 2nd to 6th May this year and focuses on encouraging nursing staff - and medical and health care professionals - to make one change to reduce their unnecessary glove use and help make health care more sustainable. RCN resources available.

SHARE conference - 6 May 2022 - Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise

SHARE conference - Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise

New Asthma Toolkit for GPs on Greener Practice website

Greener Practice have launced an asthma toolkit designed to help GP practices improve outcomes for patients with asthma whilst also reducing carbon

£7.45m funding available for two new research units

The Health Foundation’s REAL Centre has launched an ambitious new programme that will provide independent research that builds on the work of the REAL Centre, to help improve long-term decision making in health and social care. There may be good opportunities to propose research through the lens of sustainability.

Help shape CSH Networks & win a CSH course!

We are offering one free foundation level course run by CSH as a thanks for completing the CSH networks questionnaire by Sunday 3rd April. Open to network members and non-members, your responses will help us develop the networks and ensure that they best meet your needs.