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Greener Practice

How we have taken steps using the Greener Practice Toolkit to work towards a greener practice. 

At St Augustine's we recognise the impact of all areas of our work on the health of our planet, as well as on our patients.

We are signed up to the  Green Impact For Health Toolkit , which will help us move our practice into being more environmentally friendly, reducing our carbon emissions and plastic waste, helping us to care better for both people and the planet at the same time.

The toolkit aims to help General Practices make better decisions in this climate and ecological emergency. The NHS is responsible for 4-5% of the UK’s carbon footprint.

The majority of General Practice’s carbon footprint comes from prescribing. The clinical actions that reduce our carbon footprint are aligned with our existing health priorities and evidence-based, person-centred practice. This BMJ article outlines Six steps to both greener and better primary care. 

We can significantly reduce our carbon footprint by supporting health and wellbeing (e.g. nature-based interventions, social prescribing, de-prescribing where appropriate and low-carbon prescribing). Person-centred medicine, which works in collaboration with patients on what matters to them, is likely to lead to improved patient empowerment and self-care. Greener practice can deliver win-win solutions for patients and the planet. To learn more, visit the BMJ’s page here.

What We’re Doing to Help

We are undertaking projects to improve the Practice’s sustainability.

Projects we have completed so far:

  • Introduced recycling scheme(s) including batteries and soft plastics.
  • Switching to greener prescribing including changing inhalers.
  • Minimising the amount of paper letters we send, instead using phone calls, texts or emails.
  • Improving our outside area.
  • Reusing non confidential paper to make note pads.
  • Adding 2nd computer monitors to reduce paper waste.
  • Reducing waste with reusable masks, tourniquets, dishes.
  • Promoting patient and staff health and wellbeing as a Parkrun 
  • Promoting turning off lights, turning down heating and using energy wisely. 

Projects we’re working on:

  • Green impact for Health Toolkit 
  • Hot and Light? If something is giving off heat/light – it must be turned off for the night e.g. monitors, air conditioning, lighting.

What you can do to Help?

We’ve put together a list of a few things you can do to help the planet and our Greener Practice project.

To Help our Project you can:

      • Discuss which inhaler you’re using with your GP, nurse or Pharmacist to see if a more environmentally friendly inhaler is suitable.
      • Recycle any used inhalers and unused medications at your local pharmacy.