Elderly woman asked to make 'greener' GP choice

An 83-year-old woman was ordered to find a new doctor because her "carbon footprint" was deemed too large.

Avril Mulcahy embarks on a two-mile round trip to her GP's surgery, but she was sent a letter from the facility asking her to address her "green travelling issues" and asking her to find a new doctor within 28 days.

The grandmother – who has been attending the surgery for the past 30 years – said: "When I read through the letter, I found it absolutely ridiculous they were saying the reason was to decrease their carbon footprint.

“I have been a patient at the practice for 30 years now, and there has never been any problem. To be treated like this, just because I live too far away or for what I feel is a reaction to my complaint, is disgraceful. It feels like they are just coming up with an excuse to get rid of me."