What can you do?

As well as the things we are doing as a Practice to be more sustainable, we are encouraging patients to be more sustainable too. Below are some ideas of small, often health related, changes you can make which can help the environment.

Reducing waste and increasing recycling

• Did you know you can recycle your inhaler? Several pharmacies  will take used inhalers from you for recycling.
• You can also recycle Novo Nordisk pens for diabetes weight management, for more information visit PenCycle.
• If you have asthma the Practice Nurse will advise you if you are suited to a dry powder inhaler. Dry powder inhalers are much better for the environment and are often the  best choice for our health.
• Some patients need to continue using Metered Dose Inhalers. Where this is the case we are encouraging patients to ensure they’ve used every dose from that inhaler before returning it to the pharmacy for recycling.
• As a Practice we are looking at how we can reduce prescribing in order to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce waste. Please talk to your health care professional if you have concerns about this.

Reducing the use of paper

• Patients can find a great deal of information on our website – whether they want to know about how to register, making appointments online and about our different clinics or services. Patients can also find out about ways to improve their health and wellbeing on our website too.
• We are also starting to encourage patients to use online forms, rather than paper based forms, and these are gradually being introduced to the website

Reducing prescribing

• Where possible, the Practice is reducing polypharmacy and over prescribing. We will only reduce medications in the best interest of the patient and may also be able to promote other ways you can help manage your condition, for example through diet, exercise and support groups. Using other forms of support can help reduce the need for, or the amount of, medication prescribed – which is good for you and good for the planet.

Supporting health and wellbeing

• We support patients to improve their health and wellbeing, for example through working closely with North West Leicestershire Health and Wellbeing Team.
• We are an Active Together Practice.
• Patients can join one of the many local Health Walks that take place in our area, including the Broom Leys Surgery Active Together Walking Group that starts and ends at the Practice and is organised by our PPG.
• We promote 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.