As reported by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the RCGP have warned that the NHS will struggle to meet its net zero targets unless GP practices are given greater access to government-backed green investment programmes
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) says current funding arrangements are effectively shutting out general practice from key decarbonisation schemes. College research found that since the Boiler Upgrade Grant was introduced in May 2022, just five GP practices in England and Wales have successfully accessed the scheme. At the same time, most practices are unable to apply for support through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, including those whose buildings are managed by NHS Property Services, which oversees around 1,500 practices in England.
In a letter to Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband MP, Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Chair of the RCGP, called for changes to make funding routes more accessible to primary care. She urged ministers to simplify application processes and allow GP premises to benefit from the proposed GB Energy investment model, arguing this would significantly reduce the carbon footprint of frontline services.
Primary care is responsible for approximately a quarter of the NHS’s total carbon emissions. Many GP teams operate from outdated and energy-inefficient buildings, with limited resources to fund essential upgrades without external support.
The College says enabling greener investment in general practice will be critical if the health service is to deliver on its environmental commitments.
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