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Directory of National links and resources for GPs and Practices

  • Greener Practice Trainee Forum:  Greener Practice has created a forum to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas on sustainable healthcare . GP Trainees working in both GP and hospital settings, are welcome.  One aspect of this forum will be to gain ideas and tips for sustainable Quality Improvement projects, which can also count towards the e-portfolio QI and leadership activities. The forum is established as a WhatsApp group, and may also host meetings on topics of interest. 

  • The Greener Practice Trainee Forum (above) have worked with Bradford VTS to produce a resource explaining the relationships between planetary health and human health, and our role in this as Doctors.  A link to these resources can be found here .

  • The NHS Greener Allied Professionals Hub  provides clear actionable steps which AHPs can take to improve their own environmental sustainability. It includes ‘what good looks like’ for individual AHPs and their teams, as well as wider examples demonstrating how AHPs can lead this work within their organisations.

  • SEE Sustainability offers information to practices about where to start with green initiatives this includes ideas for training and general  resources.  A free online non-clinical carbon footprint calculator is available to all General Practices in the UK. The calculator measures and identifies the non-clinical greenhouse gas emission hotspots from running practices and produces a carbon equivalent footprint. An overview of the process and further information can be found here
  • Published annually, the  Lancet Countdown on health and climate change is an international, multidisciplinary collaboration, dedicated to monitoring the evolving health profile of climate change, and providing an independent assessment of the delivery of commitments made by governments worldwide under the Paris Agreement. 
  • The BMJ has produced an article that provides a useful starting point for practices seeking to minimise their impact on the environment.
  • This BMA report outlines ways in which General Practice can develop sustainable and environmentally friendly General Practice. It has been produced as part of a wider BMA workstream in line with 2019 ARM policy to deliver carbon neutrality by 2030. 

  • Greener Practice is a primary care climate and sustainability network which aims to raise awareness of the health benefits of climate action and support the primary care community to take practical action towards greener practice. It provides a collection of information and the opportunity to support practices to set up local groups. A slide presentation produced by Dr Honey Smith, Chair of Greener Practice introducing the network and key areas of its work can be found here.

  • Greener Practice newsletters contain a wide variety of updates and information of relevance to general practice.  A copy of previous newsletters can be found here .

  • The Green Impact for Health Toolkit provides information on how your  practice can move towards being environmentally sustainable. The tool kit is created by the RCGP and SOS-UK as a development tool. It contains a range of downloadable resources and a pathway for your practice to start to work towards achieving bronze, silver and gold awards. This free online toolkit lists over 100 actions that can improve the environmental sustainability and quality of any general practice as well as saving money.

  • Display a poster in the staff room to start the conversation about a greener practice environment. York GP Dr Rumina Önaç has a variety of posters available on her website

  • NHS Forest works with healthcare professionals and organisations to make green spaces available for health purposes and offer a wide range of programmes and opportunities to get involved.

  • The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare offers strategic input and consultancy on sustainable healthcare research and practice to national and local programmes 

  • Health Declares is a group of health professionals and organisations from across the UK. It is committed to acting and advocating to protect planetary and human health and invites individuals to make five point declarations in personal and professional lives.. You can commit to these by completing the form on their website

  • The Greener Allied Professional hub has been set up as a resource to support and promote a range of clear actionable steps which AHPs can take to improve their own environmental sustainability.

Recycle and Reuse 

  • Walking aids (sticks, frames, rollators and crutches), can be safely refurbished and reused repeatedly.  Information about where patients can recycle their equipment locally  can be found here further information for practices wishing to highlight the scheme to patients can be found here Reusing a refurbished walking aid is on average 98% lower in carbon emissions than using a new walking aid.

  • Pencycle: Pre-filled Novo-Nordisk pens can be recycled through drop off at local participating pharmacies.  Visit the website here for further information on this scheme and a  list of participating pharmacies.

  • Display a refill link on patient notice boards or above the water dispenser, highlighting where water bottles can be refilled for free in the local area. There is more info here https://www.refill.org.uk/ or there is another one here https://water-map.org/  – avoiding the need to buy water in plastic bottles.

  • Recycle Now: This link provides a recycling locator which can be used to help you find your nearest recycling point for a wide range of objects.  

  • Inter Care I+ Medical Aid for Africa is a UK registered charity that collects unused medical products for redistribution in Africa. They take old BNFs (up to 5 years old) and unused surgical instruments from single use packs.  Unused instruments can be collected by InterCare volunteers direct from registered practices.  For more information and details of how to register for collections click on the link here .

  • Terracycle offers free recycling programmes for a range of items, funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world. Groups can organise to become collection points or collect and drop at local collection sites.  A scheme for recycling medication blister packs has been launched in partnership with Aldi.  Practices may wish to download the information to share with patients to encourage them to participate in this scheme. For more information please follow this link.

  • TevaOne is an inhaler recycling scheme where pharmacies can sign up to act as collection points. The scheme is currently closed to new participants but you can find out where your nearest participating pharmacy is here

  •  An environmentally safe disposal route for used and unwanted inhalers is available at all pharmacies. Information regarding this is available at https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/inhalers-0

  • The Greening of Life website has a number short videos providing information on topics including recycling of Lateral Flow Tests and inhalers and reducing the use of plastic gloves .

December  2023

The voice for NHS GPs and Practice Teams across North Yorkshire, the City of York, Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale & Craven districts.