Today saw leaked information about the NHS’ plans to try and reduce its carbon emissions. The NHS has a special Sustainability Group that comes up with ideas on how to become more green. Their great idea is, and prepare yourself, it is amazing- is to reduce the amount of meat it serves in hospitals! Wow!
The powers that be think that by reducing the amount of meat they buy in it will reduce their carbon footprint. It is true that the NHS is one of the biggest buyers of food in the UK but even so is this really the best idea they can come up with?! In the UK the NHS accounts for more than three percent of carbon emissions in England which isn’t bad considering it is the largest employer in Britain and the third largest in the whole world. The NHS also has a lot of properties throughout the country.
Whilst it is true that the carbon footprint of food is quite high there are other things the NHS could do to reduce its carbon footprint. However, instead of cutting down on meat products perhaps the NHS should actually buy in locally sourced, fresh produce rather than microwave meals that come from goodness knows where. In fact this might keep patients healthy, they might actually enjoy the food and it is better for the environment!
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see the full outline of the plans to reduce carbon emissions and go carbon neutral. We’ll keep you posted! Ethical and Green wonder what Jamie Oliver will make of this considering he is promoting British meat at the moment?!
Mark Waterfield said,
January 29, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
Your article goes to prove that the staff in the NHS should stick at what they have been trained to do – sort out the health of their patients.
Fiona Black said,
May 25, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
I work in the NHS and think that the attitude in your posts is patronising.
The NHS in England has a carbon footprint of 18 million tonnes CO2 per year. This is composed of energy (22%), travel (18%) and procurement (60%). Despite an increase in efficiency, the NHS has increased its carbon footprint by 40% since 1990.
It is taking its responsibility for reducing its carbon footprint seriously and has some very qualified experts working alongside frontline staff to make this happen.
Mark Waterfield – would you rather it did nothing and continued to pump out the CO2?
Ethical and Green have misrepresented the the NHS carbon reduction strategy, which if it had read the document offers many different ways for the NHS to strategically contribute to improving the nations health by reducing CO2 emissions. The NHS is a responsible community focussed organisation which does not just ’sort the health of its patients’ but works to improve what it does in a much broader way every day.