We at Hannage Brook medical centre are concerned about and acknowledge the importance of climate change, we believe that it is a climate emergency. We try to involve ourselves in many projects to better our impact on the environment and our patients! Find out more by clicking the link below.
Our values:
If you are worried about climate change, you are not alone! We at hannage brook are dedicated to improving our impact on the environment. We care about our patients massively, that’s why we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and highlighting the deep connection between personal health and the health of our planet. When we care for one, we care for both.
With your help we can aim to achieve our goals, you may be thinking ‘what can I do to help?’, we hoped you’d ask!
Here are some ways that you can have a greener impact:
- Travel sustainably to the practice– Unsurprisingly cars are massive contributors to air pollution and gas emissions, if you are able to walk or cycle instead help to improve the air quality in our community.
- Reduce car usage– It has been shown that pollution levels inside the car can be higher than outside, so it may be best to avoid the car whenever possible. Cyclists are also exposed to far less air pollutants than those in cars!
- Changing your search engine– Ecosia is a great alternative to general search engines as every search can help to plant new trees across the planet, its servers use carbon free power and other sustainable sources of energy to remove 1kg of CO2 from the air.
- Avoiding medication waste– It has been reported by the Department of Health that an estimate of £300 million every year goes on unused medications. To prevent this you could avoid reordering and stock-piling, recycle your blister packs, return your inhalers or check your prescribed medication to see if it could be reduced or for a non-medication alternative.
- Avoid engine idling– If taking the car is unavoidable, you can still try things like turning off your engine when not moving and safe to do so. This can prevent the emission of harmful gasses like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
- Engage in local community activities– We at Hannage Brook have many services available that can enhance overall lung function and also have a positive impact on the environment. Find out more on the ‘active practice for you’ link above.
- Take the side roads– One study indicates that side streets can offer a 50% decrease in pollution exposure compared to main roads. Another study had shown that spending time in areas with lower pollution can lower levels of inflammation and stress hormones, both linked to asthma flare ups.
- Choose eco-friendly personal care products– Minimising waste, using reusable alternatives and sustainable products can decrease the amount of landfill you are contributing to, this is because a lot of the plastic we use often ends up in the natural environment. It has been shown that one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year from plastic pollution in our oceans.
- Adopt a plant rich diet– Scientists have found that animal agriculture is actually the largest producer of air pollutants at over 50%. This means that by cutting down the amount of meat that you eat you can help to reduce the number of ammonia emissions.
- Reduce energy use at home– Saving energy will save you money and also reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses produced. This is because much of the energy we use daily comes from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
So… What are we doing to be more sustainable?
Click on the arrows to see our key areas of focus for sustainability:
Putting sustainability at the heart of our work
- Sustainability is one of our core values
• We work collaboratively with our local community and seek partnership work
• Whole practice commitment to achieving the NUS / RCGP Green Impact Award
in line with the 2030 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals
• Sharing best practice and ideas, a Green Action group meet regularly to progress ideas
Working with others to make a bigger difference
• Working with Derbyshire ICB to build momentum around sustainability work
• Joining and supporting local community events
Using less energy and improving our building to aid this
• Radiators are turned down where possible
• Computer equipment is turned off at the end of each day
• Electricity is generated from our Solar PV. Additional gas and electricity are purchased from a green energy supplier
• We are moving to low energy lighting and fitting sensors
• Staff take responsibility for switching lights off when not needed.
• Staff responsible for closing building at the end of the day undertake a building sweep to ensure all lighting is turned off
Buying more eco-friendly products
• Commitment to sourcing Fairtrade tea and coffee
• Purchase milk from local supplier in glass bottles
• Reducing single use plastic, including not providing plastic cups
• Using refill bottles for eco washing up liquid and surface spray
- Changed the default internet search engine to Ecosia which plants trees when people use the site.
Reducing waste and recycling more
• Confidential waste is collected for shredding and other paper is recycled
• Clearly labelled bins to encourage better waste management
• Currently recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, printer toner cartridges and batteries
Promoting walking, cycling, and low-carbon travel
• We are a ParkRun practice and staff regularly take part
• We organise walk and talk events for staff
• Staff use Teams channels for meetings where appropriate to avoid travel
Reducing our use of paper
• Promoting health education messages to patients via patient information screens in waiting areas, to reduce the use of leaflets
• Patient communication uses paperless systems, including online forms, where possible
• Setting photocopiers to print double sided by default
• Scan and email documents, to reduce printing
• System in place to collect non-confidential documents printed only on one side so this paper can be used as note pads
- All plain A4 white copier/printer/fax paper bought by the practice meets at least one of the following options: made from at least 70% recycled paper; made from NAPM accredited recycled paper; made from pulp from FSC certified sustainable sources.
Eco-consciously prescribing medication
• Where possible, the Practice is reducing polypharmacy and over prescribing
• Where appropriate, switching prescriptions for inhalers to dry powder inhalers
• Reducing prescribing of opiates – we are working with patients to review their opioid use and reduce where possible
• Our Social Prescribing team delivers the ten Footsteps programme to support those living with chronic pain
- The practice has reviewed the proportion of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) used compared to metered dose inhalers (MDIs) AND the proportion of low volume Salbutamol MDIs used compared to high volume Salbutamol MDIs used AND the proportion of inhalers which use HFA227ea. We are now in the lowest 25% of practices in the country for MDI use
Supporting the wellbeing of both patients and staff
• Promoting workplace health and wellbeing
• Providing resources on our website to help patients support their health and wellbeing
• Directing patients to further sources of advice and support
• Promoting a series of health and wellbeing campaigns each year, for example on specific topics such as alcohol use or on seasonal health issues such as the flu vaccination
- Please see this video for more information on reducing waste.
It’s not all doom and gloom
You may be thinking that this is an awful lot of information to take in at once and experiencing something called ‘eco-anxiety’.
Just know that you are not alone, we are here with you and there are many others in the same position as you! Just by reading and taking this information on board you have taken the first step to a greener you. It can be overwhelming but doing what you can to help the earth in any way possible is still helping the earth.
We at the practice found this video very helpful and comforting, especially if you are feeling particularly overwhelmed.
Green Impact for Health Award
We are proud to state that we were awarded the silver award in 2024, following the bronze award in 2023 for green impact.
We are very pleased to have been awarded the Green Impact for Health Silver Award. This demonstrates our commitment to running our practice in a sustainable way. we have challenged ourselves to make changes to reduce our carbon footprint and improve sustainability.
