Resource

Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) carbon footprints of various units of healthcare activity

Rosie Hillson
Rosie Hillson • 18 October 2022

In 2015 the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) (now known as Greener NHS) in partnership with Environmental Resources Management estimated carbon footprints for the following units of healthcare activity: 

  • GP Consultation
  • Patient Travel
  • Emergency Department Visit
  • Inpatient/Bed Day
  • Surgical Procedure
  • Condition Self Management 

You can find the main guidance document as well as the six seperate documents covering the estimated carbon footprints along with the methodology for each of the modules above.

Resource author(s)
Sustainable Development Unit (SDU)
Resource publishing organisation(s) or journal
Sustainable Development Unit (SDU)
Resource publication date
October 2022
Download resource - Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Main_Document_-_Oct_2015.pdf Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Main_Document_-_Oct_2015.pdf Download resource - 1._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_GP_Consultation_Module_-_Oct_2015(1).pdf 1._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_GP_Consultation_Module_-_Oct_2015(1).pdf Download resource - 2._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Patient_Travel_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf 2._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Patient_Travel_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf Download resource - 3._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Emergency_Department_Visit_Module_-_Oct_2015(3).pdf 3._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Emergency_Department_Visit_Module_-_Oct_2015(3).pdf Download resource - 4._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Inpatient_Bed_Day_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf 4._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Inpatient_Bed_Day_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf Download resource - 5._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Surgical_Procedure_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf 5._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Surgical_Procedure_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf Download resource - 6._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Self_Managment_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf 6._Sustainable_Care_Pathways_Guidance_-_Self_Managment_Module_-_Oct_2015.pdf

Comments (2)

Melissa  Pegg
Melissa Pegg

May I ask if there is any sight of an update of the various healthcare activity carbon footprints (since this is 8 years old - although very useful indeed)? Many thanks. Kind regards

Eleanor Murray
Eleanor Murray

I had been wondering this! inherent issue with carbon footprinting is that it is out of date almost immediately!
In particular a colleague keen to hear if anyone has contemporary data on carbon footprint of siting a venflon?


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