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.
NHS South Yorkshire launches ‘Medicines Waste’ campaign
Return your unwanted medicines
South Yorkshire residents are being encouraged to return any unwanted medicines to a pharmacy.
People are also encouraged to only order the medicines they need, check their medicines bag before they leave their pharmacy and to tell their GP if they no longer want/need a medication.
These messages aim to reduce harm caused to the environment from medicines pollution as well as potential harm to pets and people at home, and to prevent medicines over-ordering and stockpiling.
If unwanted and unneeded medicines are returned whilst still in the pharmacy those medicines can be safely re-used.
Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer, NHS South Yorkshire said:
“Returning unwanted medicines to a local pharmacy is a simple and effective action that can help to protect nature and ourselves.
“When medications get flushed down a toilet or put in bins they can get into our soil and waterways and cause harmful pollution.
“If you have unwanted medication you can return it to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
“This includes any products with medication in them, such as creams, liquids, medicine bottles, used patches and inhalers.”
“We would ask that patients only order the medications that they need.”
Inhalers in particular, are incredibly important to dispose of correctly as they can leak greenhouse gasses long after the medication has been used.
NHS South Yorkshire urges all residents to check their medicines supply before ordering more, and to check their medicines bags before leaving the pharmacy to help protect supply chains and our environment.
For more information visit the NHS South Yorkshire Website: https://southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/south-yorkshire-medicine-waste
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.