A study by the Department of Dermatology at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, has found a significant reduction in CO2 emissions by scheduling same-day surgeries for patients.
This led to a reduction in distance travelled of 35,275km, which represented a reduction of 6.02 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to the CO2 emitted from six transatlantic flight.
The hospital’s Dermatology Department has also reduced carbon emissions significantly by running a satellite clinic at Naas General Hospital.
Annually, 10.32 tonnes of carbon emissions were saved due to the shorter journeys taken by patients who lived closer to Naas.
A study of 245 patients attending this clinic at Naas General Hospital found that over a month, the overall distance travelled by patients was reduced by 4669.1 km. Annually, this meant a reduction of 10.32 tonnes of carbon emissions, equating to 12,900 takeaway coffees.
