Nineteen local GP surgeries have signed up to reduce their carbon footprint under a scheme set up by a federation of local practices.
The GP practices in Tadworth, Banstead, Epsom, Ewell, Worcester Park and Leatherhead have joined forces to implement the scheme and meet the 2009 NHS carbon reduction strategy for England.
The aims of the scheme are to reduce carbon emissions from their practices, make savings on gas and electricity and make cost savings for the local NHS.
They also aim to reduce financial liability for NHS Surrey from the government’s compulsory emission trading scheme which starts in April 2010.
The project will be run in conjunction with Isostosy, an environmental management consultancy, who will assess the current situation and indicate areas where savings can be made.
The costs for the project will be met by re-investing efficiency savings that EDICS and EDICS Leatherhead have made over the last five years.
Over the next five years, the project aims to provide ongoing savings for the NHS economy, which can then be re-invested in local patient care.
Dr Julian Orton, the project sponsor and GP at Spring Street Surgery, Bourne Hall, said: “This project is about savings – doing our bit to save the environment and creating savings in the NHS budget.
“We are thrilled that so many surgeries locally have accepted the challenge to reduce their carbon footprint, and we are excited to see what opportunities the project might create for the future sustainable development of our healthcare services.”
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