Practical Resources and Guidance

The Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) believe that by working together we can achieve more environmentally friendly respiratory healthcare. It has identified six key areas that require action by individual healthcare professionals, as well as commissioners, professional organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. 

This article outlines 10 strategies, divided into top wins and longer-term aspirations, which can be used to create a greener healthcare environment.

The NHS is under increased financial and environmental pressures. Blanket switching of medications (changing medication from one to another without patient consultation) to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly options is therefore becoming more common. Is this right for the patient? The short answer is, no. This document will support primary care respiratory leaders understand and challenge these decisions, whilst also promoting greener respiratory healthcare to align with NHS targets.

This resource provides a blueprint for how to lobby your local MP on greener healthcare issues.

Promoting practical action that can help to reduce the environmental impact of respiratory healthcare.Use this calendar to identify practical steps you can take to make your respiratory healthcare greener – either in the short term or the long term. This resource enables you to take a ‘small steps of change’ approach to achieving greener healthcare around a busy practice environment. Take part in the challenge as an individual or with your practice team.

Strategies to enable healthcare professionals to understand and deliver greener respiratory healthcare

Tips you can implement locally in support of greener respiratory healthcare.

Air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK every year and both cause and worsen lung disease. While outdoor air pollution may be a topic for governmental policy, we, as healthcare professionals, can take a range of steps to minimise our own contribution to local levels of air pollution, improve the air quality in our places of work and support patients in managing their risk from air pollution in their daily lives.