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Adopt point of care testing to cut carbon emissions, say over 80% of GPs

Point of care diagnostics must not be overlooked if the NHS is to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s first net zero health service. The majority of the workforce (83%) is already persuaded of the climate benefits of adopting the new technology, according to a survey of 200 GPs in the UK.

“Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service” states that around 14% of NHS emissions relate to patients, visitors, staff and suppliers travelling by road, and reducing unnecessary journeys is one of the interventions considered in the NHS report. 

This could be achieved if patients could get a test, result and treatment within one appointment, rather than making up to three journeys: first to a clinical appointment, then to a blood test and back to the clinician once the test results are back from the laboratory. 

Rapid point of care diagnostics allow a clinician to assess a patient, perform a test, get results within minutes and start treatment – all in one appointment. For example, patients’ risk of thrombolysis or diabetes can be immediately assessed using lab-comparable tests on the same diagnostic device.

According to the survey, the vast majority of GPs favour community testing, with only 4% choosing the hospital as the preferred location of testing, compared to 46% preferring the GP surgery, 18% a community hub, 15% a patient’s home and 12% the pharmacy.

Professor Mayur Lakhani, General Practitioner and Board member of West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Being able to discuss the result directly with the patient is very powerful and already we are reducing the number of journeys to the urgent care centre and the hospital with anticoagulation and D-Dimer testing.”

Dr. Matthew Fay, Medical Director, LumiraDx, said: “Testing, diagnosing and starting treatment in one appointment means a better outcome for the patient and, by cutting unnecessary journeys, a better result for the planet.”

 

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Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club Annual Scientific Meeting

Crowne Plaza, Newcastle Upon Tyne
3rd - 4th April 2023

DECON UK 2023

Hilton Birmingham Metropole
18th April 2023

Infection Prevention and Control 2023

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
25th - 26th April 2023

Oncology Professional Care

ExCeL London E16 1XL
23-24 May 2023

EBME Expo 2023

Judds Lane, Coventry, England, GB, CV6 6
28th - 29th June 2023

AfPP Annual Conference 2023

University of York
10- 13 August 2023

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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