A new dashboard has been launched to help reduce CO2 emissions from inhalers.
The new ‘Respiratory- Carbon Impact Dashboard’ by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) contains easy to understand data for prescribers to reduce the high carbon impact of inhalers.
Data suggested that approximately 3% of total NHS carbon emissions can be attributed to respiratory and primarily metered-dose inhalers (MDI) which rely on an aerosol propellant to deliver their active chemical ingredient.
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It has become more sustainable to prescribe lower-carbon inhalers or lower CO2 MDI variant to mitigate the carbon impact of respiratory prescribing without impacting patient outcomes.
Michael Brodie, chief executive of NHSBSA said: ‘Across the NHS, there is a drive to reduce CO2 emissions produced by the prescribing of inhalers for respiratory conditions - in line with the NHS Long Term Plan, Greener NHS initiative, and to support the ambition for a net zero NHS.
‘So we hope that our new Carbon Impact dashboard can help prescribers and commissioners to see the great benefits of moving to lower carbon alternatives.’
In partnership with clinicians from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the dashboard was built to provide prescribers and commissioners with an insight into the impact of respiratory prescribing in the context of sustainability.
Viewers can see the levels of carbon production in different types of inhalers such as relievers and preventers.
Sam Scholfield, Environment Coordinator at NHSBSA explained: ‘High levels of air pollution cause asthma in both children and adults. In the UK alone more than 12 million people are affected by lung conditions with over 60 million inhalers prescribed every year.
‘Swapping to a more environmentally friendly inhaler helps to reduce the contribution to climate change and in turn prevents worsening air pollution.’
Head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK Emma Rubach, fully supported GP's prescribing lower carbon inhalers but warned that it should not be at the expense of people's health.
'While it is important that the NHS do their bit to protect the environment, this should not be at the expense of people’s health so it is important that prescribers give patients the choice about what inhaler they want.
'Healthcare professionals should take into account which is most suitable for patients, and they must be able to change back to their inhaler at a later point if they want to.'
The data on the dashboard can be viewed at a practice and Primary Care Network level and also within Sub Integrated Care Board Locations.
The new dashboard can be found here, https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/access-our-data-products/catalyst