2 optimising inhalers
Patients with respiratory disease are one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to the effects of climate change - heatwaves, cold weather and air pollution all lead to poorer respiratory outcomes. It's important we provide good asthma care by first of all ensuring we have the right diagnosis and optimise disease management so patients are experiencing no or minimum symptoms. By choosing the right device we can not only improve symptoms but can also reduce the impact on the planet. Many patients can use dry powder inhalers and changing patients from MDI (gas cannister inhalers) can be a win-win.
Newquay Health Centre, Newquay, Cornwall
Newquay Health Centre is one of the Cornish practices doing amazing work to reduce the carbon impact of its inhaler use, by improving how it helps patients manage asthma and ensuring the right inhaler is used in the right way. Many patients are happy to move to DPI inhalers, which can improve meds delivery for the patient at the same time as reducing its carbon impact as a device. The important thing is to help them make the decision that's right for them - obvs!
Narrowcliff Surgery, Newquay, Cornwall
Narrowcliff and Newquay are setting the gold standard for this in Cornwall.
Check out Open Prescribing for your record
Open prescribing.net can tell you where your practice, PCN or ICB is at ....
Use the fabulous Green Asthma Toolkit!
The national Greener Practice Network has a fantastic Green Asthma Toolkit to help you navigate this shift. It's brilliantly put together by a GP with specific respiratory expertise, and who regularly appears on the national stage talking about her work and resources, all freely available:
and see who else is doing this ...
Dr Kawita Schur of Newquay Health Centre talks about climate, carbon and inhalers...
and more fabulous links ...
The Right to Know
Clean Air Hub
Action for Clean Air