bring their green innovations into our region and provide them with the platforms to introduce them into the health and care system .
Sustainable innovations that also benefit patients
Our award-winning work with the NHS in Hull , and AstraZeneca on the SENTINEL programme , helped to reduce the reliance on , and prescribing of , blue ‘ reliever ’ inhalers for asthma sufferers and the greenhouse gas emissions they produce .
Data from the first six Primary Care Networks involved in the programme has shown a reduction in blue inhaler prescribing by nearly 16,038 units since starting the programme , equating to an offset of almost 457,000kg CO2e emissions ( equivalent to more than 571 transatlantic flights ). This number continues to rise , month by month . You can find more detail on this project on page 23 of this report .
An example of innovation that has a side benefit of supporting a reduction in emissions is our work with TytoCare across the Yorkshire and Humber footprint . TytoCare is a handheld medical device given to the patient to use at home . It reduces the need for face-to-face appointments in a clinical setting and therefore cuts travel and associated carbon emissions .
From April to December 2021 , the pilot TytoCare projects that we helped to establish in trusts across the region saved a total of 51 visits to GP practices and emergency departments , as well as acute ward admissions , which equates to 414kg of CO2e emissions saved and 1,500 miles of travel avoided .
You can find out how TytoCare is being rolled out across the region in a variety of different care settings on page 15 .
Engaging our stakeholders
We have been , and continue to be , actively engaged with NHS England ’ s ‘ Greener NHS ’ programme , on both a regional and national level , providing leadership and identifying solutions that help the NHS achieve its Net Zero targets .
In partnership with Greener NHS , the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition , and with colleagues across the AHSN Network , we have brought together resources to help innovators calculate their carbon impact . This has included leading sessions to support innovators to understand the policy and strategic context of a Net Zero NHS and ways to evidence the contribution of their innovation and business .
Impact of TytoCare pilots on travel to care settings
414 kg
CO2e emissions offset
51 GP and A & E visits avoided by patients
1,500 miles of travel avoided
10 Transforming Lives Through Innovation