Action must be taken to reduce the NHS' significant contribution to carbon emissions, a new report argues.

The size of the health service, with one million patient contacts every 36 hours, means that it has a large 'global footprint' on the world's environment.

Energy use in NHS facilities costs about £400 million each year and results in a net emission of around one million tonnes of carbon.

Earlier this year the government set a target for the UK to reduce emissions to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010 and 60 per cent by 2050.

If the NHS is to meet this target then it will have to work hard to reduce its energy consumption, today's report from the New Economics Foundation (Nef) says.

By not helping to reduce emissions, the NHS will fuel a cycle of climate change-induced health problems; a warmer, more variable climate could lead to an increase in heart-related deaths, insect borne disease and respiratory problems.

Nef policy director Andrew Simms said that the NHS could help to play a "vital role" in helping the environment.

"First, it can help the nation to cope and adapt…. second, it can lead the way by showing how large organisations can cut, radically, their greenhouse gas emissions," he added.

"Global warming is happening, time is running out and – like the rest of us - the NHS has to act now, before the climate becomes critical."

Surveys released by the NHS Confederation (NC) to coincide with Nef's report, which is released today at the NC annual conference in London, show support for tackling climate change from both leaders in the NHS and the public.

Nearly two-thirds of the public agree the NHS should do more, while 70 per cent of 336 chief executives and chairs of NHS organisations agreed reducing the NHS' carbon footprint should be a priority.

NC chief executive Dr Gill Morgan said: "Our members understand their responsibility to tackle climate change and reduce the NHS' carbon footprint.

"By addressing some key aspects such as energy use, transport and waste the NHS can not only have a considerable impact on reducing its carbon footprint but also its costs."

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