Welcome to 'Green Rabbits' the monthly newsletter from the Campaign for Greener Healthcare for an update on sustainable healthcare news, events, resources and our projects. The primary source of information about the Campaign, including an archive of these newsletters, is our website at www.greenerhealthcare.org.
WATER SAVINGS IN HAEMODIALYSIS
A 100-patient kidney dialysis unit discards approximately 84,000 litres of water from its water purification system every week. For every litre used in the dialysis treatment, up to 3 litres of reject water is discarded - straight down the drain. But even in the UK, some kidney units have found simple ways to recover this water for uses such as flushing toilets or in the hospital laundry - saving thousands of pounds in the process. Helping more units to follow their example is one of the first issues to be tackled in the Green Nephrology project. At a web based seminar planned for 23rd November, renal technicians will present a case study from an existing unit, and invite participants to discuss technical, environmental and financial aspects. For more details click here.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS - THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ROLE OF THE DOCTOR
How should the climate-health crisis change the role of doctors? What can medical practitioners do now to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change? Can clinicians be advocates for action on climate change with their patients, and how is this best managed?
These are some of the questions which work currently underway at the Royal College of Physicians may help us to answer. For more details click here.
DREAM GREEN TEAM
To demonstrate that going green can be fun, Team Greener Healthcare took part in the fantastically eccentric Brompton World Championship event at Blenheim Palace on 4th October. Wearing fair-trade gleaming white coats supplied by OMCC The Organic Medical Clothing Company the team drew lots of attention. Dr Frances Mortimer and Tim Nicholson were representing the Campaign for Greener Healthcare and Dr Mahmood Bhutta the British Medical Association Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group.
As well as having a great time the team were keen to promote the co-benefits of an active lifestyle, good for your health and good for the planet, plus the importance of buying ethically and fairly traded products in the health service. For more details click here.
TOOLS & RESOURCES - NHS BRISTOL'S 10:10 PLAN
Hats off to NHS Bristol - the first 10:10 Health organisation to share their their 10:10 plan for all to see. You could use it to get ideas for your own plan or maybe even as a template - either way it is great to have an example of how a PCT is approaching 10:10. You can see the plan via our 10:10 Health page (www.greenerhealthcare.org/1010-health) or directly by clicking here. If you have a 10:10 plan you would like to share we would love to hear from you - please email tim.nicholson@kintoa.org.
CARBON ADDICT SERIES - FIRST LINE INVESTIGATIONS
The Flatus - Air Redistribution (FART) Test is no longer recommended for first line investigation of carbon dependence. The bulky collection apparatus is not only unpopular with patients, but has even been suggested to be a fire hazard. Many clinicians also find difficulty in interpreting the results of the test: in a meat-eating patient, a small volume of methane "emitted" directly may belie much greater emissions from the food chain...
www.carbonaddict.org/first-line-investigations
GOOD MONTH FOR ...
The NHS Forest following the very successful launch at Alder Hey Hospital - for more details click here.
The field of sustainability and health, with the the publication of the Health Practitioners Guide to Climate Change. For more details click here.
BAD MONTH FOR ...
Houses of Parliament following the decision not to sign up to 10:10. Incredibly some 10,000 people contacted their MPs in just 48 hours to urge them to vote in favour of the motion and the debate went on for three hours! For more details click here.
EVENTS
Green Commissioning Workshop, 4th November, London
Lean Healthcare Academy Exhibition and Awards 2009, 12th November, Leeds
Delivering Health and Well-being Through Sustainable Healthcare Buildings, 17th November, London
Webinar: Water Savings in Haemodialysis, 23rd November, on the Web
Managing Carbon Reduction in the NHS, 23rd November, London
Public Health Impacts of Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 25th November, London
HSJ Award Ceremony, 30th November, London
THE WAVE, 5th December, London