The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published a Green Physician Toolkit that brings together the evidence on health and climate change, and suggests actions that physicians can take in their day-to-day practice.
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to health – 2022 was the hottest year on record in the UK, causing nearly 3,000 excess deaths during five heat periods, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) projecting the potential for heat-related deaths to increase 580% to 10,889 each year between now and the 2050s.
With the NHS responsible for around 40% of the UK’s public sector emissions and 4% of total emissions, in 2020 the health service in England committed to reach net zero on all direct emissions by 2040. The RCP says that physicians have a vital role to play in helping the NHS reach its net zero goal – changes to clinical practice and how care is delivered, whether large or small, will make an important contribution to reducing the environmental impact of the health service.
The Green Physician Toolkit suggests a range of actions that physicians can take in their day-to-day practice to help mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including:
- Reducing unnecessary prescribing by using shared decision-making approaches with patients to reduce the environmental burden of medications that are no longer useful generating less waste.
- Reducing blood testing where clinically appropriate.
- Advocating for sustainable practices such as including sustainability as a standing item in all clinical governance meetings.
- Limiting the environmental impact of travel.
- Participating in sustainable quality improvement projects through a Green Team competition.
- Communicating with patients about climate change to help them understand how it will affect their health, and how to protect themselves.
The toolkit also brings together the evidence showing the impact of climate change on health, with the goal of educating as many physicians as possible on this issue. Case studies from across the NHS are showcased to exemplify how physicians can adopt these actions into their day-to-day practice.
RCP special adviser on sustainability and consultant nephrologist, Dr. Mark Harber, said: "The priority for NHS staff will always be giving patients the best possible care - especially in the current context of high pressure and growing waiting lists. But the health impacts of climate change are increasingly visible, and as health care professionals, it would be irresponsible to ignore the increasing impact that climate change will have on patient health. It is important to support patients in mitigating the risk to their health.
"The Green Physician Toolkit sets out a range of recommendations to help reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare delivery, including remote consultations where clinically appropriate. Importantly, it offers physicians advice on supporting patients to understand how their health is impacted by factors like heatwaves or air pollution so they can better manage their condition. This is particularly important for older patients, young children, pregnant women, and those with long-term health conditions like cardiovascular diseases and asthma."
You can download the toolkit at: rcp-green-physician-toolkit.pdf and find further information about the RCP’s policy on this issue here. You can also share examples of good sustainable practice by submitting a case study here.
