This is a new resource and we'll add more sub-specialties as we get input.
For more on sustainable paediatric care, see Greener paediatrics
About and how to get involved
For each listed sub-specialty, we include:
- Why sustainability matters in the context of that specialty, including prevention, patient involvement, lean pathways and low-carbon alternatives
- Links to relevant adult resources and projects, to encourage reflection on how adult guidance may differ for children and young people
- Opportunities for innovation and collaboration, including ideas for research, and cross-sector working
We'd love to add content for each sub-specialty. Please get in contact with our Health Policy team on health.policy@rcpch.ac.uk and we'll send you a template to complete (open box to see this).
- Template
Sub-specialty overview
Why is it a high impact pathway?
What can be done within these four themes of sustainable healthcare?
- Ideas for preventing ill health
- Ideas for patient involvement
- Ideas for lean pathways
- Low carbon alternatives
Are there opportunities for research, innovation and cross sector collaboration?
Resources
Paediatric respiratory medicine
Sub-specialty overview
Respiratory paediatricians are clinicians who have detailed knowledge and understanding of the respiratory disorders in children.
Why is paediatric respiratory medicine a high impact pathway?
Paediatric respiratory medicine is a high impact pathway where greener paediatrics projects and initiatives could make a big difference improving the environmental sustainability of care. MDI inhalers alone contribute 3% to the NHS carbon footprint. Other contributors include hospital admissions for chronic conditions like asthma and respiratory infections, frequent antimicrobial use, and disposable equipment like ventilators and nebulisers.
1. Ideas for preventing ill health
Explore collaboration with public health efforts to reduce air pollution and vaping uptake. Promote healthy diets, exercise, vaccination (for example, influenza, routine childhood vaccines), and advocate for housing improvements to prevent exacerbations.
2. Ideas for patient involvement
Explore discussions about inhaler environmental impact and switching to low-carbon alternatives where clinically appropriate.
Develop tools in collaboration with children and young people that cover good control of respiratory disease, adherence to treatment and safe disposal of devices.
3. Ideas for lean pathways
Explore establishing inhaler recycling systems that are easily available for patients where they are likely to use them.
Promote sustainable quality improvement that initiatives focus on developing checklists and standardisation, for example 'Getting it right first time' programmes.
4. Low carbon alternatives
Metered-dosed inhalers (MDIs) are responsible for 3% of the NHS carbon footprint consider dry powder inhalers or propellent inhalers where possible.
Are there opportunities for research, innovation and cross sector collaboration?
Establishing local recycling schemes.
Resources
- is a comprehensive resource that outlines BTS stance on how the impact of climate change on respiratory health can be assessed, reduced and mitigated
- RCPCH Air pollution companion
- RCPCH Greener paediatrics: Sustainable asthma care - good practice guide