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In a recent report issued by the think tank New Economics Foundation, it was reported the UK’s health service spent £400m on energy and emitted about one million tonnes of carbon a year.

The NHS Confederation-commissioned report said 5 per cent of UK road transport emissions were from NHS-related trips. It added that the NHS would have to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by at least 600,000 tonnes if it was to meet the government’s target of cutting CO2 by 60 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050.

Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, welcomed the findings. “By addressing some key aspects such as energy use, transport and waste, the NHS cannot only have a considerable impact on reducing its carbon footprint but also its costs,” she said.

Dr Morgan said the organisation could save £50m each year if it cut energy consumption by 15 per cent.

It seems to me as if the government need to start prioritising the important issues affecting our National Health Service. If the NHS are to reduce their carbon footprint, how will this be achieved,

Purchasing solar panels, heat pumps, energy-efficient boilers and locally sourced food, all cost a lot of money. Money I believe the NHS does not have available to spend on such a small area of concern to the Health system. Do not get me wrong, Climate Change and the Environment are major issues we need to address, but would money be better invested in other more crucial areas of the NHS? Such as ensuring access for patients at the hours that suit them, getting better basics of food, hygiene and cleanliness right and ensuring patients are treated with dignity in the NHS. I know I would rather attend a Hospital with efficient staff, vacant beds and cleaner wards.There seems to be more important problems which need addressing immediately, not energy saving devices. Anyway, how are we to win the fight against Climate change when we have countries such As America and China showing a fair amount of ignorance to reducing carbon emmissions. There seems to be no energy efficient lighting within the many Mcdonalds dotted around the USA and why are there not any Wind Turbines adorning the desert plains of Texas.
So for now lets concentrate solemnly on investing in the areas of concern within the NHS and leave the work of reducing our carbon footprint to a much later day, a day when our NHS is running more efficiently and correctly.