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NEWS: Susan Mayor NHS should bring in measures to reduce its carbon footprint, BMA says BMJ 2008; 0: bmj.39538.375706.DBv1 [Full text]

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The answer is simple.

Neil Srinivasan   (5 April 2008)

Let's set an example

Elliott J King   (6 April 2008)

Culture change in attitudes needed

Mike Simpson   (7 April 2008)

The answer is simple. 5 April 2008
Neil Srinivasan, FY2 Obstretics and Gynaecology WF13 4HS Send response to journal: Re: The answer is simple.	Hospitals alone consume far too much energy. The answer is not with the staff or the patient transport, but within the hospitals themselves. More energy efficient heating, insulation and double glazing are needed. All lights should be energy saving, not the energy inefficient ones we have now. All hospitals should be self sufficinet in energy, with their own generator using green energy, and with solar and wind power harnessed on the roof. This should be made compulsary in as draconian a fashion as the infamous "deep-clean". Competing interests: None declared
Let's set an example 6 April 2008
Elliott J King, 4th Year Medical Student Cardiff University Send response to journal: Re: Let's set an example	I am in complete agreement with the sentiments of the BMA's call on the NHS to take action on carbon emissions. As a large organisation the NHS has a duty to reduce carbon emissions and I think we should go further to encourage its staff to do the same thing at home. There is no quick solution to reduce emissions but we can work over time to take action. Very often I notice lights left on in offices, equipment left on, computers in libraries switched on 24 hours a day. If it doesn't need to be on then it shouldn't be. We must take the initiative to make sure we switch off lights when we have finished with them and why not shutdown your computer once you have finished using it? Recently at University Hospital of Wales there was a campaign on energy, leaflets were given out concerning money spent on energy and the potential effects on the environment. Running such campaigns is a great way to get at patients and staff. We must work to encourage patients to use public transport to get to hospitals, the NHS must change the thinking and encourage the patients not to drive. The recent removal of car parking fees in Wales, whilst a completely understandable move, will undoubtedly do nothing to encourage the use of public transport rather than cars. We must all work to make the NHS more environmentally friendly and look after our environment. Competing interests: None declared
Culture change in attitudes needed 7 April 2008
Mike Simpson, Co-ordinator, Spokes - the NHS Cycling Network NHS Networks, Leicester LE1 6NB Send response to journal: Re: Culture change in attitudes needed	One problem that besets the NHS is a culture which assumes that everyone can and should travel everywhere by car. Many NHS organisations provide travel directions for visitors which are only of use to car drivers and many NHS job descriptions stipulate car ownership as a matter of course when it is patently unnecessary. Senior managers who make decisions around travel policies generally don't use public transport, cycle or walk. As a result they don't understand the alternative transport agenda or the benefits which promoting sustainable transport can bring. There is a knee-jerk reaction which assumes sustainable development will cost money whereas many initiatives, especially transport-related ones, can actually save the NHS money while also benefitting employees and the community through reduced polution. It is only corporate inertia which prevents these ideas from taking root in NHS culture. A recent survey by Spokes - the NHS Cycling Network revealed that 56 per cent of NHS Trusts pay only the bare minimum (AfC/Whitley required) cycle mileage rate to employees who use their bicycles for work journeys, although this is less than a third of the Government's tax-free limit (6.2p/mile as opposed to 20p/mile). Furthermore 22 per cent of NHS Trusts pay below the minimum, apparently unsure what 'minimum' means! In addition, many Trusts are reluctant to instigate the Government's 'Cycle to Work' scheme for tax-free bicycle purchases, despite requests from staff. Promoting cycling among staff is one of the simplest, cheapest, most cost-effective measures that any Trust can take to reduce its carbon footprint yet many are resistant to the idea, still viewing employees who cycle as some sort of eccentric fringe. Until promotion and support of sustainable development is made a centrally imposed requirement of NHS Employers, such incentives as exist (minor things like saving money and promoting public health) will have little effect. Competing interests: None declared