GD06 The grass is always greener on the nearer side

Abstract

Abstract Climate change is becoming a significant matter of concern, and ways to reduce our impact on the environment are becoming an increasing priority. We assessed the difference in carbon emissions when patients attended our peripheral dermatology clinic rather than the tertiary centre. Our objective was to establish the reduction in carbon emissions when patients attended satellite clinics instead of a tertiary service. The addresses of patients attending clinics over a month-long period were compiled, and distances to both hospitals were measured. These were compared, and the difference was used to calculate the reduction in carbon emissions. The emissions produced by staff members were added to the total of emissions produced by patients travelling to peripheral clinics. In total, 245 patients were included in the study. The total distance travelled by patients for a round trip to the satellite clinic was 10 105.9 km, and the equivalent for the tertiary centre was 14 775 km. The mean distance travelled by patients to and from the peripheral clinic was 41.25 km. The mean distance travelled by patients to and from the tertiary hospital was 84.69 km. The amount of carbon emissions produced by the patients travelling to the peripheral hospital was 1.87 tonnes. The amount of carbon emissions of patients travelling to the tertiary hospital was 2.73 tonnes. This was a saving of 0.86 tonnes over a 1-month period. Annually, this amounts to a difference of 10.32 tonnes of carbon emissions. The provision of peripheral dermatology clinics has a significant positive impact on the environment and greatly reduces the distances travelled by patients. Our study suggests that satellite clinics could reduce carbon emissions by 10.32 tonnes annually. This equates to 138 flights from Dublin to London, or 12 900 takeaway coffees. This study has demonstrated that the provision of peripheral clinics can make healthcare more sustainable, by reducing the number of carbon emissions being produced.