Clinical considerations
Approximately 60% of the carbon emissions of primary care arise from our clinical work.
Primary care is responsible for a significant proportion of the NHS’ carbon footprint because it is where most of the prescribing happens.
The majority of General Practice’s carbon footprint comes from prescribing. The clinical actions that reduce our carbon footprint are aligned with our existing health priorities and evidence-based, person-centred practice. This BMJ article outlines Six steps to both greener and better primary care. We can significantly reduce our carbon footprint by supporting health and wellbeing (e.g. nature-based interventions, social prescribing, de-prescribing where appropriate and low-carbon prescribing). Person-centred medicine, which works in collaboration with patients on what matters to them, is likely to lead to improved patient empowerment and self-care. Greener practice can deliver win-win solutions for patients and the planet. To learn more, visit the BMJ’s page here.
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The four principles of sustainable healthcare.
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Prescribing contributes the largest carbon footprint of all our activities in General Practice.
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Over diagnosis and over testing have a high social, environmental and financial costs.
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Incorporating physical activity into our daily lives is a huge way of improving our own health directly, whilst also improving the health of those around us by reducing air pollution.
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Increasing the education, skills and tools available to healthcare professionals to deliver lifestyle interventions has potential to benefit both people and planet.
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Inhalers contribute 3-4% of the NHS’ carbon footprint so they need to be a key area of focus in primary care.
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Nature-Based Health Interventions are programmes, activities or strategies that aim to engage people in nature–based experiences with the specific goal of achieving improved health and wellbeing.
