This website uses cookies to help us understand the way visitors use our website. We can't identify you with them and we don't share the data with anyone else. If you click Reject we will set a single cookie to remember your preference. Find out more in our privacy policy.

Navigation breadcrumbs

  1. Home
  2. Latest
  3. Virtual appointments: how can we benefit from their net zero impact without widening health inequalities?

Virtual appointments: how can we benefit from their net zero impact without widening health inequalities?

22 May 2023
In a recent BMJ article, we explore how virtual appointments can play a significant role in reducing NHS carbon emissions but call for these appointments to be implemented correctly so to avoid further exacerbating health inequalities.

Addressing the climate challenge is one of the key priorities in our five-year strategy. Our BMJ paper recognises how the NHS urgently needs to address several significant and co-occurring challenges now facing healthcare delivery: climate change and health inequalities. We then highlight how any steps taken to make progress in one area must not inadvertently worsen conditions in another.

Our NHS is responsible for 4-5% of England’s carbon emissions, which is why it is vital that it remains committed to reaching net zero by 2040. Virtual appointments – now considered routine following the pandemic – can help significantly cut the NHS carbon footprint by reducing the need to travel. With 122.3 million outpatient appointments in 2021-22, patient travel contributes to 5% of the NHS’ total annual carbon footprint. Greener NHS have estimated approximately 232 million road miles could be avoided annually using virtual appointments. This offers the potential to save 426 ktCO2e per year, which is equivalent to approximately 57,500 homes annual energy use.

Virtual appointments have a lower rate of missed appointments, possibly because they reduce the amount of time people need to take off education and work. They also help people who live in areas where public transport is less available. Together, this shows how virtual appointments have the potential to reduce health inequalities by improving access to care for a wide range of people who otherwise face barriers in accessing services. However, there are some drawbacks. For some already marginalised groups there is evidence that they may limit, rather than improve, access to care. Older people, people with disabilities or people living in deprivation may experience hurdles to logging on for virtual support due to its reliance on IT equipment and internet savviness.

As our BMJ paper explores, it isn’t a simple picture. While virtual appointments undoubtedly reduce carbon emissions and are convenient for many, for others virtual appointments could prove problematic. A balance needs to be struck with the NHS targeting its provision of online care to make the most of its opportunities. We must continue to assess our usage of virtual appointments and consider which patients and conditions are better serviced in this digital way.

Read the full paper in the BMJ  

Want to hear more about our climate work? Sign-up to our newsletter.