Working towards sustainability and a 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.

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.
Health & Wellbeing

  • We recognise that healthy lifestyles and our environment are closely linked. As part of our commitment to supporting our community: 

    • Supporting patients to improve their health through lifestyle changes
    • Signposting patients to relevant community services
    • Delivering health and wellbeing campaigns
    • Promoting walking, cycling, and other active lifestyles
    • Encouraging access to local groups and community activities via self referral links, or staff referrals. 
      
Reducing the environmental impact of medicines

We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of medicines while ensuring the highest standards of patient care. Our approach includes:

  • Reducing medicines waste through patient awareness campaigns
  • Supporting appropriate prescribing and regular medication reviews
  • Encouraging patients to return unused medicines safely to pharmacies
  • Promoting inhaler reviews and switching to lower-carbon alternatives where clinically appropriate
  • Working with care homes to minimise unnecessary medication use
  • Collaborating with pharmacies to reduce medicines wastage across services

All prescribing decisions are made based on what is safest and most appropriate for each individual patient.

Patient involment
  • We promote simple actions patients can take to reduce environmental impact such as turn off engines in waiting cars. 
  • Patients are encouraged to share suggestions. 
Reducing paper waste

We are committed to becoming a more paper-light Practice by reducing unnecessary printing and embracing digital alternatives wherever possible.

  • Promoting digital access

    • Encourage patients to use online forms and NHS App services for appointments, prescriptions, registrations and communication.

  • Smarter printing

    • Set double-sided printing / black & white as the default across the Practice.
    • Addition of two screens to print only when absolutely necessary.
    • Using old paper and envelopes as note pads. 

  • Digital communication

    • Prioritise scanning and emailing documents instead of printing and posting
Sustainable resources and procurement

We are reviewing our purchasing to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.

We use local companies where possible to provide services / gifts for staff. 

Waste Reduction and single-use plastic

Reducing waste across the Practice.

  • Recycling of paper, cardboard, batteries and printer cartridges
  • Clear waste segregation (clinical, confidential, recycling and sharps)
  • Reducing the use of single use products such as tourniquets, dishes and masks. 
Wellbeing and green initatives for staff
  • Staff garden added at the Chocolate Qtr / campaign to reinstate the staff garden at TH site.  
  • Lunchtime walks encouraged as part of meeting schedule
  • Green waste recycling facilties
  • Regular wellbeing activities for staff, relaxtion event, walks etc. 
  • Local saturday park run participation. 
  • Encouraging sustainable transport - bike scheme / electronic bike loan.
Working towards net zero
  • Participation in the Green Impact Health Toolkit
  • Commitment to reducing our carbon footprint 
  • Promoting turning off lights, turning down heating and using energy wisely.