In this episode of CPPE Pharmacy Conversations, hosts Hayley Berry and Alison Butt explore the crucial and evolving topic of sustainable healthcare with two expert guests: Nuala Hampson, lead pharmacist at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, and Sharon Phleger, consultant in pharmaceutical public health at NHS Highland.
Nuala and Sharon bring extensive experience and passion for embedding sustainability into pharmacy practice. They reflect on their personal journeys into sustainable healthcare, emphasising the pivotal role pharmacy professionals play in addressing the environmental impacts of medicines and healthcare services.
Listeners will gain insights into the five principles of sustainable healthcare—prevention, patient self-care and empowerment, lean service delivery, low-carbon alternatives, and sustainable resource use—and hear practical examples of how pharmacy professionals across all sectors can take meaningful action. From improving repeat prescribing systems to considering pharmaceutical pollution in our waterways, this episode provides both inspiration and actionable ideas.
Whether you're new to sustainability or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation encourages pharmacy professionals to “put on their green goggles” and consider how everyday decisions can support both human and planetary health.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:
Resources
General awareness
All our health - climate change
All our health - air pollution
Education and training on Environmental sustainable healthcare programme
Sustainable healthcare courses - Centre for sustainable healthcare
Sustainable leadership for greener health and care programme
CPPE environmental sustainability learning gateway
Toolkits
Organisations/networks
Centre for sustainable healthcare
Environmental links
Our health breakthrough partnership (OHBP) homepage
Broadening the perspective on reducing pharmaceutical residues in the environment
Environmentally informed pharmaceutical prescribing in Scotland