A report by researchers at the University of Aberdeen, commissioned by Public Health Scotland and SEFARI Gateway, calculates for the first time, the economic value of outdoor spaces in NHS Scotland sites.  

All of the images in this article are of Orkney’s NHS Balfour Hospital.

Published by SEFARI Gateway, this is the first study in the world to look at the value of outdoor green spaces within hospitals, health centres and GP surgeries used by staff, patients and their families, and the public for walking and relaxing.  

The team asked people about their visits and how they valued different types of outdoor spaces. They then followed Office for National Statistics guidelines and used bespoke economic analysis to calculate the value in monetary terms. 

Dr Neil Chalmers, Health Economist at Public Health Scotland, said:

“Half of NHS Scotland’s estates comprise of outdoor green spaces with park-like vegetation such as grass and trees. These areas are well frequented for walking and relaxing, with our research estimating that approximately half the population visited an NHS Scotland open space in the past year, leading to a total of 122 million estimated annual visits.  

“This has a real impact on the mental and physical health of those who visit these areas, as well as a positive knock-on effect on NHS services that can now be visualised in cost savings. This research underlines the importance of maintaining quality and accessible outdoor green spaces on the NHS estate in Scotland, so that everyone in society can continue to benefit from them.” 

The survey of 2,449 adults across all fourteen regional NHS Scotland health boards found that people spend roughly 87 million hours a year in NHS outdoor spaces.  

The health benefits from these visits is valued at around £82 million a year, which is what it would cost the NHS to provide the same benefits through healthcare services. 

The authors say that in addition to supporting physical and mental health, outdoor spaces at NHS Scotland sites ‘offer value simply by being pleasant and accessible places for people to enjoy.’ When this broader value is factored in, these spaces are estimated to be worth around £125 per adult each year at health centres, and £146 per adult each year at hospitals.  

The project was jointly funded and supported by the SEFARI Gateway (Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation) and Public Health Scotland and will contribute to the implementation of the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy building on previous research commissioned by Public Health Scotland and NatureScot.    

Charles Bestwick, Director of SEFARI Gateway said:

“As well as providing significant health benefits to the public, the green spaces in the NHS estate can contribute to Net Zero targets as well as Scotland’s biodiversity strategy. The monetary value of the green spaces also helps provide information to the NHS when it comes to managing the NHS estate.” 

Dr Luis Loria-Rebolledo, Research Fellow in the Health Economics Research Unit at the University of Aberdeen, who led the research added:

“As the first study of its kind anywhere in the world, our research highlights the significant value of NHS Scotland’s open spaces, not only for their role in enhancing mental and physical health, but also in promoting social well-being and environmental sustainability.  

“These spaces are crucial for improving public health, offering people places to relax, recover, and exercise.  

“We believe these findings will be instrumental in shaping how NHS outdoor spaces are designed, maintained, and used across Scotland. Just as importantly, they offer valuable lessons that can be applied in healthcare settings around the world” 

Fiona Grahame

---