Healthcare Group Wins Greener Impact Award

In a remarkable achievement, the Healthcare Group has been honored with the Greener Impact Award, which celebrates general practices that have made commendable strides toward enhancing environmental sustainability. This award is part of an initiative led by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in collaboration with Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK).

Commitment to a Healthier Planet

Dedicated to creating a healthier planet, the Healthcare Group has focused efforts on reducing waste, energy use, travel emissions, and excessive medication waste. Their commitment to eco-friendly practices not only supports the environment but also ensures that they continue to provide top-notch care for patients in Guernsey.

Green Impact for Healthcare Toolkit

As part of their award recognition, the Healthcare Group has gained access to the Green Impact for Healthcare Toolkit (GIHT), which offers invaluable resources and guidance to bolster their sustainability initiatives. The practice has formed a dedicated ‘green’ team tasked with generating and implementing innovative solutions to lower their carbon footprint and minimize waste. Recent efforts include the adoption of environmentally friendly clinical equipment and the introduction of tiger waste collection bags, which significantly reduce the need for clinical waste incineration—a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Becky Mitchinson's Comments

Dr. Becky Mitchinson, a key figure in the organization, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to receive this recognition. It reflects all the hard work of our team, but we must not stop there. Climate change has been identified as the greatest global health threat of this century, with over 1°C of warming already experienced. This bronze award is just the beginning as we strive toward silver and eventually the diamond award. We are excited about being part of a healthier, greener Guernsey.”

Promoting Greener Prescriptions

In addition to their internal initiatives, the Healthcare Group is actively promoting ‘greener prescriptions.’ They encourage patients to order only what they need while facilitating lifestyle changes as part of their treatment plans. A notable example is the newly launched nurse-led asthma clinic in St. Martins, which aims to improve asthma management while concurrently reducing reliance on inhalers. It’s noteworthy that inhalers account for over 10% of the carbon footprint in primary care. The clinic is transitioning patients to more environmentally friendly Dry Powder Inhalers, which not only enhance effective asthma treatment but also significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion

Dr. Mitchinson concluded, “By working collectively as a community, we believe that small changes can result in substantial impacts on sustaining a more environmentally responsible healthcare system.” With such progressive measures in place, the Healthcare Group exemplifies how healthcare practices can lead the charge toward a sustainable future, proving that environmental consciousness and excellent patient care can go hand in hand.