Primary Care Anchor Networks
Building Vibrant, Healthy Communities Together
At SWL Primary Care Anchor Networks our aim is to collaborate with local partners to create and sustain vibrant and healthy communities.
- Joining up NHS, social care and public health services at local level
- Strengthening NHS organisations' focus on addressing health inequalities
- Creating partnerships to support healthy communities
- Increasing recruitment of local people into Primary and Community Care roles
This approach demonstrates how Primary Care in South- West London can leverage their position in the local community as a major employer and resource holder to positively impact our local communities and through collaboration with strong ties with our communities address health inequalities.
The work of anchor institutions across London benefits Londoners of all backgrounds, as well as primary care itself.
The SWL Primary Care Anchor Network can update you, our Primary care colleagues on the progress and empower you to do whatever you can to help reach our shared objectives of eliminating inequality and achieving net zero.
Priority areas include:
Environmental Agenda
Air quality
Making every contact count
to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population
click the link below to direct you to training module on air pollution
https://www.swltraininghubs.org/items/make-every-contact-count
Air quality alert system for London’s health system
The London Air Quality alert system will provide timely alerts to all GPs and Emergency Departments in the city approximately 24 hours before high air pollution episodes are forecasted.
Click the link below to direct you to learn more from NHSE
https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/2024/02/28/new-air-quality-alert-system-for-londons-health-system/
Indoor air pollution
Webinar addressing poor air quality, opportunity to understand the causes and approaches to reduce through simple measures, click the date link below to book
11th April 2025 , 15th May 2025, 29th May 2025, 26th June 2025
Primary Care
Green Impact for Health Toolkit
This toolkit helps your general practice improve your sustainability; reduce your practice expenses; reduce your carbon footprint; and adapt to the climate changes.
The NHS is responsible for 4-5% of the UK’s carbon footprint. Using Green Impact is one way that your practice can join the journey towards a low carbon, sustainable way of living.
Click the link to access, https://toolkit.sos-uk.org/greenimpact/giforhealth/login-
Prescribing
Insulin Pens
Reusable
Can reduce plastic waste and save the NHS in prescription costs
Recycling scheme
It is estimated that up to 23 million medical pens are sent to incinerators or landfill every year in the UK. The scheme will also contribute to NHS England’s ambition to become the world’s first net zero national health service by 2045.
Offered by Novo Nordisk and Sanofi (not Lilly)
Sanofi have launched a pilot program that will recycle used pens, just order a collection envelope online and post back, free of charge.
PenCycle scheme for Novo Nordisk, can be used to recycle Novo Nordisk’s diabetes (insulin and GLP-1) and weight management pre-filled plastic injection pens.
Clinicians when counselling patients, where appropriate to signpost patients to the website
Community pharmacy
can sign up to the scheme
share details with patients collecting script
Environmental impact of inhalers
Please click the link to the document which aims to support GP practices reduce their inhaler carbon footprint, whilst improving asthma outcomes
Greener Prescribing in General Practice
Please click the link to view a document produced by the RCGP regarding Greener Prescribing in General Practice
RCGP Towards greener prescribing in general practice, March 2025
Apprenticeships
Work Experience
Sustainable PCAN model