Pharmacies able to apply for environmentally sustainable awards

Contractors are invited to choose from more than 50 sustainable actions, for which they will be awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold status depending on how many they complete.
Elen Jones, director for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales

A ‘Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme‘ has been launched by Public Health Wales to help primary care contractors improve their environmental sustainability.

The free and voluntary scheme, which launched the week commencing 6 June 2022, is open to community pharmacy, general practice, community optometry and primary care dental practices.

Contractors who wish to take part can choose to undertake more than 50 actions towards greater sustainability, including switching to more efficient lightbulbs, undertaking greener inhaler prescribing and using more recycled materials.

Contractors can be awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold status, depending on how many actions they complete. Gold is awarded to those who complete 75% or more actions, with Silver and Bronze being awarded to contractors who achieve 50% and 25% of actions, respectively.

The scheme has been endorsed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Community Pharmacy Wales, as well as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Dental Association.

Elen Jones, director for RPS Wales, said: “We have been delighted to contribute to the development of the Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme and would like to thank Public Health Wales for progressing this work so quickly, collaboratively and with such enthusiasm.

“We fully support the Welsh government’s ambitions for the public sector, including the NHS, to achieve net zero by 2030. To achieve this target, we will all need to work together, and the Greener Primary Care Wales framework will instigate further action. 

Eluned Morgan, minister for health and social services in the Welsh government, urged contractors to sign up.

“In joining the scheme, you’ll be part of a growing network of healthcare professionals committed to building greener practice into everyday decision making,” she said.

Contractors can register for the scheme here.

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, June 2022, Vol 308, No 7962;308(7962)::DOI:10.1211/PJ.2022.1.145566

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