NHS App reduces carbon emissions

Published: 19-Apr-2022

Online facility reduces car journeys to GP surgeries

The NHS App is helping to reduce the health service’s carbon footprint, reducing travel to GP practices by 22,000 car journeys every month.

New analysis carried out by NHS Digital found that around 200,000 appointments and repeat prescriptions arranged through the NHS App between April and December last year would previously have been made by people driving to their local surgery.

And the research estimates that around 4,100 fewer bus and taxi journeys, and around 5,500 fewer train and motorbike journeys, are being made every month with patients using the app instead.

In total, more than 206,000 car, bus, and taxi trips to GP practices are estimated to have been saved between April and December 2021.

By using the App to manage appointments and order repeat prescriptions online, thousands of patient journeys to GP practices are being saved every month

Patient journeys to GP practices account for around 17% of the carbon footprint of the NHS, and the journey savings are estimated to have led to carbon dioxide (C02) reduction of 78 tonnes.

Over 26 million people are now signed-up with the NHS App and in the last four months more than 5.9 million repeat prescriptions have been ordered and over 463,000 GP appointments booked, saving valuable time for patients and clinicians.

Susie Day, NHS digital head of delivery for the NHS App, said: “By using the App to manage appointments and order repeat prescriptions online, thousands of patient journeys to GP practices are being saved every month.

“The NHS App is providing people with a convenient and secure way to access healthcare and is having a wider positive environmental impact.

Last year, use of the app helped save more than 200,000 car journeys, resulting in a significant reduction of carbon emissions

“Sustainability is a key priority for NHS Digital and the organisation is working to reduce its carbon footprint.

“Last year, use of the app helped save more than 200,000 car journeys, resulting in a significant reduction of carbon emissions.”

A total of 55 apps and e-health services are now available through NHS login, the service that supports the NHS App, including e-Referral services, COVID-19 support and advice, maternity and child health services, online pharmacies, and services to monitor and improve health and wellbeing.

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