Environmental Impact of Telehealth in the Grampian NHS Region
Author Information
Author(s): Richard Wootton, Alex Tait, Amanda Croft
Primary Institution: Scottish Centre for Telehealth, Aberdeen
Hypothesis
What is the potential impact of telehealth on the carbon footprint of the NHS in Scotland?
Conclusion
Telehealth has the potential to reduce travel emissions, but its overall impact on the NHS's carbon footprint is likely to be minimal.
Supporting Evidence
- Telehealth saved over 2000 patient journeys a year in the Grampian region.
- Telehealth avoided about 260,000 km of travel per year, resulting in a CO2 saving of 59 tonnes.
- Travel emissions in the Grampian region are estimated to be about 49,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Takeaway
Using telehealth can help doctors and patients avoid unnecessary trips, which is good for the environment, but it doesn't make a huge difference overall.
Methodology
Estimates of carbon emissions were derived from existing data on NHS travel and carbon footprints.
Limitations
There is a lack of detailed data on the carbon footprint of NHS Scotland, making precise calculations difficult.
Participant Demographics
Patients and healthcare workers in the Grampian region of Scotland.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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