GOLD: The Institute of Clinical Science and Technology & NHS Wales: Sustainability Toolkit

Inhalers contribute to 3 per cent of the NHS’s carbon emissions, mirroring the proportion attributed to staff travel within the NHS (the largest employer in the UK). Millions of inhalers are prescribed across Wales annually, with most having high global-warming potential, but there are lower alternatives, say the award entrants. “When a population of people make small changes, real impact is achieved.”

This digital toolkit empowers patients and healthcare professionals by:

  • encouraging a switch to sustainable inhaler alternatives, where patients’ control is not affected
  • standardising and reducing variation in inhaler prescribing
  • optimising patient disease-control and outcomes
  • reducing inappropriate inhaler spending.

The toolkit has achieved full implementation across Wales and is outperforming decarbonisation targets, say organisers.

SILVER

Medefer & Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust: Environmental Sustainability Through Virtual Care

BRONZE

Philips & County Durham and Darlington FT: Working Together To Green Critical Care

Finalists

  • Definition Health & University Hospitals Sussex Trust: Adopting A Digital Solution To Reduce Carbon Emissions Across Surgical Pathways
  • DrDoctor and Royal Papworth Hospital FT: Drdoctor And Royal Papworth See 269,020g Of C02 Saved Through Digitising Patient Communications

Topics

Winners of HSJ Partnership Awards 2024 revealed