The NHS estate is set to get a large contribution towards upgrading electric vehicle infrastructure.
In July, the UK government announced a £63m investment to drive down charging costs as part of the Plan for Change.
As part of this investment, £8m was allocated towards the NHS, which will create over 1,200 new electric charging points.
With over 20,000 vehicles that rack up more than 460 million miles each year, the NHS hosts the second largest fleet of vehicles in the UK (after Royal Mail).
Anna Parry, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), told NHS England: “In some parts of the country electric ambulances and response cars have already been successfully tried and tested, showing how transitioning the ambulance fleet to electric vehicles could significantly reduce exposure to air pollution for patients and communities, while also offering long-term savings that can be reinvested to enhance patient care”.
The NHS hosts the second largest fleet of vehicles in the UK (after Royal Mail
The £8m is intended to power the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across 62 NHS Trusts and around 224 sites. With the idea that any savings can be put back into patient care.
The NHS's intention is to fully decarbonise its fleet by 2035 as per its Net Zero travel and transport strategy. Health Minister Karin Smyth said: "This is a win-win: cheaper travel for the NHS and cleaner air for our communities."
The NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that reduce emissions and drive significant cost savings, all while improving patient care.
NHS Chief Sustainability Officer, Chris Gormley, added: "These savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities."
Who is getting the funding?
The government has now put out a full list of those Trusts receiving the funding, as well as how much and across how many sites.
The "NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme" funding page puts a disclaimer that funding amounts and the number of sites may be subject to change as trusts proceed through to delivery.
It will come as no surprise that ambulance and emergency-focused Trusts topped the list as some of the biggest awardees. In fact, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust got allocated the highest amount for any one Trust, with 5 sites receiving just over £690,000.
As the busiest emergency ambulance service in the UK, the trust in the capital covers the entirety of London. This fleet serves a population of nine million and handles around two million 999 calls per year.
It will come as no surprise that ambulance and emergency-focused Trusts topped the list as some of the biggest awardees
The other two highest amounts for ambulance-based trusts went to South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, for 11 and 10 sites respectively. Both trusts are due to receive just over £400,000.
Outside of ambulance-based trusts, the highest amount was allocated to Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust for 10 sites at £400,200.
On the flip side, the lowest amount was allocated to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is due to receive £4,400 for just one site.
Part of the bigger picture
The NHS is targeting net zero 2045 for its total carbon footprint, and initiatives like this all play a part in that puzzle.
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of The College of Paramedics, warmly welcomes this initiative and told NHS England: “We urge the government to maintain this funding long-term to ensure the UK ambulance sector can continue its essential transition to greener, more sustainable fleets."