Carbon Footprint Analysis of Clinical Pathways

For the NHS to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2045, not only NHS estates but also models of care need to be decarbonised. Understanding the carbon footprint of your clinical pathway/service will help to identify its carbon hotspots and open up opportunities for health professionals to address these. 

Extending your carbon footprint evaluation by including an analysis of your pathways’ social impacts, for example, looking at inequity hotspots or, patient and staff experience, and financial impacts – the triple bottom line -, will provide a more comprehensive understanding of your clinical specialties flash points. It will not only highlight the areas to focus your emissions reduction efforts on, but also help you to enhance your patients’ and staff experience of your service, improve equitable access for all and reduce costs. 

What is involved in a Carbon Footprint or Triple Bottom Line Analysis?  

A carbon footprint analysis of a clinical pathway estimates the direct and indirect greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions attributable to that pathway. Unlike an organisational carbon footprint analysis, it focusses very specifically on the individual care pathway, estimating the environmental impact of the pathway’s activities and resources needed for its delivery.  

Social impact measures are less defined and usually tailored to the pathway under analysis. They might include inequity hotspots or patient and staff experience. 

CSH can support you with: 

• Mapping of clinical pathway: in collaboration with your organisation, we’ll map your clinical pathway, identifying activities and resources of the pathway delivery which need to be measured 

• Data collection: we’ll take you through the data collection process to help you identify the type of data and data sources needed to measure the carbon footprint only, or also the social impact and costs.  

• Measurement: we’ll estimate the clinical pathway’s GHG emissions and costs based on the pathway’s resource use 

• Social impact measurement: depending on the category of social impact identified for assessment, patient/staff surveys or focus group discussions might be drawn on for evaluation.  

• Analysis and report: the results will be written up in a report, breaking down the GHG emissions according to activities and resources and identifying carbon hotspots 

• Interpretation: we’ll take you through the results of your carbon footprint, costs and social impact and explain your pathway’s hotspots to help you fully understand your impact and enable you to address it 

• Scenario modelling: in collaboration with your clinical team, the capacity of potential solutions to reduce the pathway’s GHG emissions can be assessed through scenario modelling. 

Who is this service for?  

The Carbon Footprint Or Triple Bottom Line Analysis Of Healthcare Pathways is for all NHS and non NHS Healthcare organisations, their clinical teams and departments.  

Success stories  

• Estimation of the annual carbon footprint of NHS sight tests at five fixed site optometry practices in the Northwest. This included estimating the average carbon footprint of an NHS sight test and developing recommendations for reducing its GHG emissions.   

• Triple bottom line analysis of eye motility services at Moorfields Eye Hospital.  

• Working in partnership with South Warwickshire healthcare providers to evaluate the environmental, financial, social and clinical outcomes of the Covid-19 changes to the Discharge -to-Assess process.   

• Evaluating the environmental impact before and after introducing Dora, an AI technology delivering autonomous phone conversations, to the cataract surgery pathway at four sites in England.   

How much does a Carbon Footprint or Triple Bottom Line Analysis cost?  

Each healthcare organisation is unique and will have a variety of needs and requirements. Our team of experts will work with you to make sure we meet your organisation’s individual needs. a variety of needs and requirements. Our team of experts will work with you to make sure we meet the individual needs of your supply chain or business.