The environmental costs of a centralised NHS

SIR – The conclusions of the Committee on Climate Change make sound suggestions for reducing carbon footprints (report, March 2).

There are, however, many other ways to reduce carbon emissions. In 2012, the League of Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital in Shaftesbury, Dorset, funded the installation of an X-ray facility in the hospital. If this facility did not exist then patients requiring X-rays would have to make a round trip of about 50 miles. Typically, 160 X-ray patients are examined at the hospital each week. While carbon reduction was not the prime motivation behind this donation, having the local facility translates into a reduction in carbon emissions by the North Dorset community of around 175 tons a year.

Delivering services such as healthcare closer to the community reduces travel and thus makes an effective contribution to reducing carbon footprints. At the same time, it makes a major contribution to the community’s quality of life. The desire to centralise services on the grounds of efficiency and value for money does not necessarily bring about the most beneficial outcome.

We urge the Government, departments and councils to take a wider and more holistic viewpoint when making decisions on provision of essential services such as health.

Dr Richard Skaife

Chairman, Strategy Working Group League of Friends Westminster Memorial Hospital Shaftesbury, Dorset

SIR – Turning down your thermostat could be uncomfortable: or it could revive the great British woollens industry.

Alternatively, buy an electrically heated “throw”. One of these has transformed a friend’s freezing flat. Robert Afia

London NW2