Incredible inhaler scheme wins major prize

We have roarsome news and no, we’re not lion! Our asthma inhaler return scheme for patients has won the Public Engagement Award at the 2022 Sustainability Partnership Awards!

These awards recognise NHS trusts and organisations that strive for sustainable change.
 
The scheme encouraged patients to return their empty inhalers by installing three animal themed bins throughout our Outpatients department at Western Bank.

Inhalers are a major source of greenhouse gasses. However, the impacts can be reduced through ensuring the correct product is prescribed for each patient and the inhalers are disposed of correctly. Currently the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of inhalers is to return them to a pharmacy for incineration, which significantly degrades the harmful greenhouse gases they still contain, but they aren’t harmful to people who use them. 
 
Dr Sam Flowers, Clinical Lead for Sustainable Asthma Prescribing for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Children and Young People’s Asthma Transformation Programme said: “We are so delighted that the inhaler return project won this award! We hope this will further promote the message that returning used or unwanted inhalers to a community pharmacy, or to the Outpatient Department for disposal in our special animal bins, is a simple and effective way to help protect the environment from further damage.”
 
John Williams, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive sponsor of our Green Plan said: “This was amazing news, well done to everyone involved in this project. Clinically led campaigns like this are so important to help Sheffield Children’s reach carbon net zero in the coming years. It is always great to receive external recognition for our work on environmental sustainability at Sheffield Children’s, and I’m sure it won’t be the last!”
 
Find out more by reading about 10 year old Archie – a young eco-champion and the first patient to use our inhaler bins!