RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Towards NHS Zero: greener gastroenterology and the impact of virtual clinics on carbon emissions and patient outcomes. A multisite, observational, cross-sectional study. JF Frontline Gastroenterology JO Frontline Gastroenterol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP flgastro-2022-102215 DO 10.1136/flgastro-2022-102215 A1 Jonathan King A1 Stephanie X Poo A1 Ahmed El-Sayed A1 Misha Kabir A1 George Hiner A1 Olaolu Olabinan A1 Michael Colwill A1 Homira Ayubi A1 GLINT Research Network A1 Eathar Shakweh A1 Victoria T Kronsten A1 Rawen Kader A1 Bu'Hussain Hayee YR 2022 UL http://fg.bmj.com/content/early/2022/11/15/flgastro-2022-102215.abstract AB Objective The National Health Service (NHS) produces more carbon emissions than any public sector organisation in England. In 2020, it became the first health service worldwide to commit to becoming carbon net zero, the same year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare systems globally to rapidly adapt service delivery. As part of this, outpatient appointments became largely remote. Although the environmental benefit of this change may seem intuitive the impact on patient outcomes must remain a priority. Previous studies have evaluated the impact of telemedicine on emission reduction and patient outcomes but never before in the gastroenterology outpatient setting.Method 2140 appointments from general gastroenterology clinics across 11 Trusts were retrospectively analysed prior to and during the pandemic. 100 consecutive appointments during two periods of time, from 1 June 2019 (prepandemic) to 1 June 2020 (during the pandemic), were used. Patients were telephoned to confirm the mode of transport used to attend their appointment and electronic patient records reviewed to assess did-not-attend (DNA) rates, 90-day admission rates and 90-day mortality rates.Results Remote consultations greatly reduced the carbon emissions associated with each appointment. Although more patients DNA their remote consultations and doctors more frequently requested follow-up blood tests when reviewing patients face-to-face, there was no significant difference in patient 90-day admissions or mortality when consultations were remote.Conclusion Teleconsultations can provide patients with a flexible and safe means of being reviewed in outpatient clinics while simultaneously having a major impact on the reduction of carbon emissions created by the NHS.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information. Not applicable.