Ambulance service nominated for national health award

North East Ambulance Service has beaten more than 600 organisations to be shortlisted for a national health award in recognition of its green credentials.

The trust has been shortlisted for the Improving Environmental and Social Sustainability Award in the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards in recognition of its commitment to slashing its carbon emissions and its progress so far.

NEAS is the only ambulance trust in the country to have been shortlisted for an award.

With a fleet of around 500 vehicles, which clock up around 10million miles per year, NEAS employs more than 2,000 people and covers a square area of 3,200 miles, operating out of 61 stations.

In 2012/13 the trust spent over £5.5 million on heating and powering buildings, fuel for the fleet, waste disposal and water use.

In recognition of its impact on the environment, the trust’s Carbon Management Plan sets a challenging 30 per cent reduction target capable of saving a cumulative £10.6m over the next five years.

The trust has already begun installing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems in a number of properties as well as LED lights, new boilers, heating controls and water saving devices.

It is also installing Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs), which extract heat from the outside, to heat some stations rather than a traditional gas fired boiler.

So far, its efforts have led to a 15 per cent reduction in electricity use and a 38 per cent reduction in gas use since 2012/13.

The HSJ Awards, run in partnership with Celesio, is the largest celebration of excellence in UK healthcare, highlighting the most innovative and successful people and projects in the sector.

This year, over 600 unique organisations submitted over 1,600 entries. The shortlisted organisations, will now complete presentations and interviews to a judging panel made up of senior and influential figures from the health sector and the winners will be announced at the ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on 18 November.

Clare Swift, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, said: “We acknowledge that as a major provider of services to the community, our operations and activities will inevitably have an impact on the environment. We are committed to minimalizing this impact as much as possible.

“We don’t underestimate the challenges ahead, especially with our fleet, but we believe we have the foundations for creating a sustainable ambulance service we can be proud of.

“It’s great that our achievements so far in such a short amount of time have been recognised on a national level.

“Even if we don’t win, to be picked out of 1,600 applicants is really good news for us as an organisation.”