A PATHWAY to a more eco-friendly world is being mapped out by North Yorkshire’s health chiefs.

NHS North Yorkshire and York is looking to draw up an action plan aimed at reducing its carbon footprint – and hopes it will set an example for those it treats to follow as well as potentially saving money.

The trust has formed a carbon management project team after its baseline CO2 output in 2008/09 was calculated at 12,737 tonnes, with two-thirds of this coming from electricity and gas use from its buildings, and the remainder from its fleet of vehicles, water and waste.

Among the sites producing the most emissions are Bootham Park Hospital and Clifton House Hospital in York (1.026 tonnes and 832 tonnes respectively), Malton+Community+Hospital">Malton Community Hospital (979 tonnes) and Selby+War+Memorial+Hospital%22">Selby War Memorial Hospital (407 tonnes).

The organisation is staging a workshop next month to thrash out ways of going greener, with a carbon reduction plan set to go before its board next March.

“Clearly, there is a link between climate change and health,” said Dr Bruce Willoughby, a consultant in public health medicine at NHS North Yorkshire and York.

“We are starting to do our bit to reduce the effects of climate change by examining our carbon footprint.

“Our next steps are to develop an action plan on how we will reduce it.

“Active travel, like walking and cycling, is one way people can help improve their health, while also doing their bit to reduce carbon.”

A report which was presented to the trust’s board this week said: “Buildings energy use is the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint and therefore has the most scope for reductions,” it said.

“Although transport accounts for only 23 per cent of our baseline carbon footprint, there is still considerable scope to change this.

“There may be associated cost savings which can be released by decreasing the total waste and water carbon emissions.”

The target is for NHS North Yorkshire and York to reduce its baseline emissions by 25 per cent over the next five years.