Can Patient Choice and Sustainable Respiratory Care Coexist?

Sustainable Respiratory Prescribing

The NHS has committed becoming Net Zero by 2040 and for the emissions across its supply chain to reach the same goal by 2045.¹

In 2019, Acute and Primary Care services equated to around 75% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the NHS, with 6.4% from anaesthetic gases and metered dose inhalers.²

The NHS has highlighted some principles which will help improve quality of care and patient experience whilst also decarbonising care pathways such as optimising location of care, earlier and quicker diagnosis and treatment and embedding best clinical practice.³

To explore how prescribers can support these principles, Katie Johnston offers a holistic patient approach in creating greener respiratory care. Ultimately, it is important to focus on more than just the inhaler device to enable long term sustainable healthcare.

References

1. NHS England. NHS becomes the world’s first national health system to commit to become ‘carbon net zero,’ backed by clear deliverables and milestones. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/10/nhs-becomes-the-worlds-national-health-system-to-commit-to-become-carbon-net-zero-backed-by-clear-deliverables-and-milestones/

2. Tennison et al. Health care’s response to climate change: a carbon footprint assessment of the NHS in England. Lancet Planet Health 2021;5: e84–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30271-0

3. NHS England. Delivering a net zero NHS: Areas of focus. https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/a-net-zero-nhs/areas-of-focus/

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• Katie Johnston

  Lead Respiratory Pharmacist

  Read biography
  Katie Johnston

  Lead Respiratory Pharmacist NHS Lothian

  Lead respiratory pharmacist for NHS Lothian.

  She is part of the Lothian respiratory MCN who creates local guidelines.

  Katie runs her own clinics as well as being a tutor for pharmacists in training. She also manages a team of pharmacists for the south of Edinburgh.

  Katie is also part of the pharmacist respiratory group for Scotland and partakes in work to do with sustainability.

  Has previously been involved in research looking at SABA overuse.