Today is World Health Day and focus for this year is on the urgent actions needed to keep the planet healthy. 

But how can digital health help the environment?

It has previously been reported that 9.5 billion miles of all road travel in England relates to the NHS, 6.5 billion of which are down to patients and visitors travelling to and from appointments.

And this is one area where digital solutions can make an impact. 

Last year NHSX estimated that virtual appointments saved the carbon equivalent of taking 40,000 cars off the road for a year, helping the helping the NHS reach its net zero carbon emissions target.

We also know that remote consultations offer a high-quality choice that patients want, with recent data showing that when faced with a health problem, only around 10% of patients ask for a face-to-face appointment.

With record pressure across the health service, embracing digital solutions like remote consultations will help the NHS recover and build for the future – and help move towards a greener future too.