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Getting started

Interested in greener practice but don’t know where to begin?  You are in the right place. 

On this page

The first step

  • There are lots of ways to start making a positive impact on the planet — but it can feel overwhelming at first. The good news? You don’t have to do everything at once.
  • Start small and grow from there. Remember, every journey starts with a single step.
  • Go where the energy is! What are people in your organisation interested in?
  • Planning a medicines project? Check out your prescribing data (e.g. Open Prescribing, EPACT2) to spot where you can make the biggest impact.

Background

You might like to start with some background reading:

Dive right in

You might prefer to dive right in.

Our Project Library has lots of step-by-step quality improvement projects to improve patient health, boost efficiency, help with CQC inspection, reduce carbon emissions and save money. Perfect for trainees and students.

Our Resource Library is packed with helpful tools for green work:

  • You could tailor this Green Plan to fit your organisation. It’s packed with ideas, so do trim it down to make it achievable.
  • Use this Timeline to plan actions throughout the year.
  • This GP Practice Carbon Calculator can identify hot spots so you can focus the Green Plan where it counts.
  • Adapt these Newsletter Articles and Texts for your practice to promote green iniatives and healthy habits.
  • Celebrate your achievements to boost morale and keep the momentum going.

Our Asthma Toolkit is the place to go if you want to improve patients’ respiratory health whilst also reducing the carbon impact of inhalers.

The Green Impact for Healthcare Toolkit (GIFH), developed by the Royal College of GPs and the National Union of Students, has helped practices across the UK cut carbon, save money, and go greener. You’ll find loads of actions to choose from—many supported by our Project and Resource Libraries. Complete actions, earn awards, and see how your practice stacks up in the race to be the greenest practice!

Get a crew

  • This stuff is often easier and a lot more fun together.
  • SIGN UP to Greener Practice to connect with others locally and nationally.
  • You might like to set up a green team in your organisation.

Funding

Funding can be a bit of a maze, but it can supercharge green work. Chat with other Greener Practice members for tips and inspiration. We regularly share funding opportunities on our newsletter.

  • The Wildlife Trust lists possible funding opportunities.
  • You might be able to access local funding for things such as staff wellbeing and retention, health inequalities, disease prevention etc.
  • Government grants may be available such as the Workplace EV Charging Scheme.
  • Fellowships can be an excellent way to carve out time to work on issues you are passionate about. Check out your local training hubs and Deep End networks.