Respiratory System
Overview
This report looks at prescribing trends in primary care for the Respiratory System at SICBL and ICB level with particular focus on bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Prescribing data is weighted with QOF registers, and also uses HES data to measure prescribing to outcomes. The report also calculates the potential opportunity cost for respiratory drugs based on the NHS England Right Care indicators.
If you have any queries about the content of the report please contact us at nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net
Frequency
Quarterly
Data Period
July 2020 to June 2023
Sustainability: Environmental impact of inhaler disposal
The NHS Long-Term Plan sets out a commitment to reduce NHS carbon emissions by 51% by 2025, and ultimately to become the world’s first Net-Zero health service. Good-quality data comparing the environmental impact of different types of inhalers is essential if patients and prescribers are to make informed decisions about their choice of inhalers in relation to their potential contribution to climate change.
The purpose of this bulletin is to review the current evidence on the relative contribution of the end-of-life disposal stage to the overall environmental impact of inhalers, and to highlight interventions which could reduce the environmental impact at end of use.
Budget impact of acetylcysteine vs carbocisteine
The purpose of this bulletin is to highlight the difference in cost between acetylcysteine and carbocisteine when used as mucolytics, and to raise awareness of savings which could be achieved within ICBs. The bulletin considers the potential budget impact to primary care prescribing budgets based on current prescribing of carbocisteine across the ICSs in the North East & Yorkshire region and Greater Manchester.
Considerations for Sustainable Inhaler Prescribing
Overview
Medicines in Practice is a series of evidence–based publications specifically designed to support stakeholder medicines optimisation services. The series aims to maximise health gains through the optimum use of medicines, by influencing and changing prescribing behaviour.
Inhalers account for approximately 3% of all NHS carbon emissions. Reducing the carbon impact from inhaler prescribing has been identified as a significant area of focus for delivering a net zero NHS. This document aims to outline strategies that can be considered to promote optimal respiratory care, while minimising the environmental impact from inhalers and consequences of suboptimal disease management
Reducing the carbon impact of inhalers across the North of England
This bulletin provides baseline figures on the current Inhaler Carbon Footprint at ICS level in the North of England, in order that systems can identify the level of response to be undertaken. It examines the current carbon footprint attributed to Inhalers in the North East and Yorkshire and the North West. It also analyses the Inhaler carbon footprint by therapeutic class, Inhaler type, and the contribution of hospital admissions for asthma towards total Inhaler carbon footprint.
Inhaler Carbon Impact Assessment Tool
Overview
The NHS Long Term Plan outlines that 4% of the total NHS carbon footprint savings are expected to be realised through a ‘shift to lower carbon inhalers’ equivalent to a 50% reduction in the inhaler carbon footprint. 1,2 The RDTC has developed an inhaler carbon impact assessment tool in response to these targets. It is intended to be used at a commissioning level to estimate the impact of respiratory pathway choices made following a clinical decision making process.
This is not a clinical switch tool and should only be used as a calculator to estimate the impact of respiratory pathway choices already made following a clinical decision making process.
User Verification
Please note that in order to access the tool users not only require an authorised RDTC website account but additional verification details. To request inclusion as a verified user please contact us at nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net
References
2. Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) Networks. Inhalers and NHS Long Term Plan.
Data Period
July 2020 to June 2021
Frequency
Quarterly
Inhaler carbon footprint; significance, focus & action
Prescribing for Population Health (PPH) is an ongoing series that aims to support ICSs to improve the health of the populations they serve. PPHs use prescribing data, biomedical literature and other data sources to provide new insights.
The impact of climate change on health is increasing, as global warming continues to rise. 1 Within the health and social care sector, pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and breath-actuated pMDIs (BA-pMDIs) have been identified as a significant contributing factor to the NHS carbon footprint.
This publication reviews current inhaler prescribing in the context of global warming potential data, and highlights interventions which should be considered by health systems.
There are three versions of this publication; please select the appropriate version for your region below.
The RDTC has also produced a carbon impact assessment tool for inhalers.