They all spoke to me calmly and explained what would be happening. They were amazing.
Sarah’s story
Published 5th June 2024
Our Commitments
Newmedica is fully committed to supporting the NHS with its Green Agenda and environmental targets; our aim being to achieve Net Zero by 2035 for the emissions that we control directly and to achieve Net Zero by 2045 for those emissions that we can influence. We are also committed to reducing our emissions by at least 90% and only relying on offsetting as a last resort.
Our Baseline Emissions in 2021 (calendar year)
We first measured our carbon emissions in 2021. When measuring our 2022 emissions, updated emissions factors were used for our Scope 3 calculations. To enable like-for-like comparison in subsequent years, the 2021 baseline emissions were re-calculated using the new data sources in 2022 and are in the table below.
Our 2021 Baseline
Scope 3 Categories
NHS Subset: 4.Upstream T&D, 5.Waste, 6.Business Travel, 7.Employee Commuting
Balance: 1.PG&S, 2.Capital Goods, 3.Fuels, 8.Upstream Leased Assets, 12. Product End of Life
Remaining categories 9,10,11,13,14 and 15 are currently not applicable for New Medica.
Our Current Emissions - Reporting year 2023
This shows an increase in carbon emissions from 2021 to 2023 of 106%. Our mission is to enable more patients to access our high-quality NHS ophthalmology services and since the baseline was calculated, we have opened 13 new surgical centers, recruited new colleagues and seen a 121% increase in the number of cataract surgeries.
Given we are in a growth phase, an important measure is carbon per patient interaction, and this has reduced by 8% from 2021 to 0.053 tC02e in 2023 due to actions we have taken.
Our Emission Reduction Targets
Newmedica are fully committed to achieve Net Zero by 2035 for the emissions that we control directly (scope 1 & 2) and to achieve Net Zero by 2045 for those emissions that we can influence (scope 3).
We expect our absolute carbon emissions to increase in the next few years as we continue to open new hospital sites to provide care for chronic eye conditions for mainly NHS patients. Our initial focus is on reducing scope 1 and 2 but we expect to provide more detailed plans regarding scope 3 carbon reduction in the coming years. We expect to set a target for reducing our intensity ratio in due course.
Carbon Reduction Projects undertaken 2023
All wholly owned sites have now transferred electricity supplies to renewable sources thus eliminating Scope 2 emissions.
Following initial trials, Building Management Systems (Energy monitoring) have been rolled out to two further sites. Additional systems are already planned for 2024.
All new sites are installed with LED lighting throughout with controls where appropriate. Retrofit of existing facilities continues.
All new sites have been installed with heat recovery systems to reduce mechanical heating and cooling requirements. Systems are retrofitted where applicable and practical.
Continue to roll out our electronic patient record system to replace paper records.
Our colleagues can opt into our electric car scheme and uptake of EV charge points continues to rise.
Carbon Reduction Projects planned in 2024
We are taking the following actions in to reduce the carbon intensity ratio per patient interaction and move us towards our net zero targets:
Plan the switch from gas to low carbon heat sources for remaining sites (Scope 1).
Ensuring all future sites are powered by renewable electricity and low carbon heat (Scope 2)
Ensuring future OJV’s have the lowest EPC rating (and Building Energy Management Systems). Other areas of focus are heat recovery systems, self-closing taps, low flush water systems and the use of FSC certified timber.
Rollout of the electronics patient record system to current and all future sites to reduce paper.
Contribute towards recently validated parent group (Specsavers) Net Zero Science Based Targets (SBTi). Will include transition from spend based carbon reporting to volume based.
Supplier engagement to understand their carbon reduction plans. Work together to reduce emissions from purchased products and services (Scope 3).
Move towards specifying only zero carbon 3rd party logistics providers (Scope 3).
Continue to encourage the use of re-usable instruments and scrubs for surgery.
Engage with Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN) Net zero group to learn and share ideas with fellow members.
Attend ESCRS (European society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) conference to learn from others in the sector and use carbon calculator.
Declaration and Sign Off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.
Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard [1] and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting [2].
Scope 1 and 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and scope 3 emissions, (including the required subset), have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard [3].
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and approved by the board of directors of New Medical Systems Ltd. Trading as Newmedica.
Rebecca Lythe – Managing Director
Date: 5th June 2024
1 https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard
2 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting
3 https://ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard
Patient stories
I can’t fault the service at Newmedica. It was amazing. Everyone was so helpful, the surgery was so quick and efficient.
Joan’s story
Read story
‘I love cooking, and now I can actually see what I’m doing in the kitchen again. Suddenly I’m able to cook my older recipes with the family.
Karen’s story
Read story
I had a first-class experience and can’t praise the team enough. I have worn glasses for a long time but my sight is so clear and sharp.
Allen’s story
Read story