What is Greener Practice?
The climate emergency is a health emergency, all aspects of healthcare are affected by climate change and are also a contributor to it. The NHS contributes 5.4% of the UK’s carbon emissions.
As a practice we want to reduce the impact on the environment whilst improving the health and wellbeing of our patients and staff.
For this we have signed up to the Greener Practice for Health Toolkit.
Climate Emergency Declaration
We are facing a climate emergency.
As a GP practice serving our community, we witness firsthand the impact of climate change on health: rising respiratory conditions, heat-related illnesses, and the disproportionate effects on our most vulnerable patients.
The science is clear. The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue – it’s a public health emergency. As part of the NHS, which itself contributes around 4–5% of the UK’s carbon emissions, we have a responsibility to act.
At The Burns Practice, we are committed to:
- Reducing our carbon footprint across both sites by reviewing how we heat, light, and power our buildings, and how we use resources.
- Embedding sustainability into the way we deliver care, without compromising safety or quality.
- Listening and acting on the concerns of patients and staff about environmental issues.
- Working in partnership with our local communities, other health providers, and national initiatives like the Green Impact for Health Toolkit.
We are already taking practical steps, such as reducing energy use, changing what we prescribe, cutting waste, improving active travel options, and using digital systems more effectively. But we know there is more to do.
This is the decade for action. Climate change is the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century, but tackling it is also our greatest opportunity to create a healthier, fairer future.
We stand with NHS organisations and practices across the UK in declaring a climate emergency. Our patients deserve care in a system that protects the health of current and future generations.
What are we doing?
We are reducing paper use by:
- minimising the use of paper where possible using texts and emails.
- prescriptions are sent electronically where possible.
- minimising the use of printing and ensuring this is double sided.
Active Travel:
- Encouraging car sharing where possible and also cycling to work with covered cycle racks having been installed to encourage this.
- Encouraging all staff and patients to be more active – if you want to find out more click here.
Prescribing
Prescribing contributes the largest carbon footprint of all activities in general practice.
Some types of inhalers have a much higher carbon footprint than others so at review where appropriate may have the type of inhaler switched to one with a lower carbon footprint.
Did you know inhalers shouldn’t be disposed of in household waste or recycling as this leads to left over gasses being released into the atmosphere. You can help by only ordering your inhaler when required to reduce waste and used inhalers back to your pharmacy.
Our pharmacy and GP team do regular medication reviews to ensure prescribing as effectively as possibly.
Energy Efficient
Solar panels have been added to our Cantley site and we are working to ensure we are as energy efficient as possible.
What can YOU do?
A lot of the solutions for helping the environment are also good for your own health; increasing the amount of plant based meals in your diet, increasing activity, avoiding smoking all help in big ways.
If you want to know more, take a look at the Greener Practice website.