Electric vans lead the way for Stockport NHS carbon neutral pledge

Stockport NHS services are making headway towards the national NHS carbon neutral pledge with new electric vans now running from Stepping Hill Hospital.

Two new electric vans are now in operation transporting goods such as prescriptions, post and pathology samples to and from the hospital, and will be joined by two more by the end of the year.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital and community NHS services is currently establishing a Green Plan which will look at all aspects of its environmental impact to see where carbon emissions can be reduced. A key element will be the electricity supply at the hospital, where the trust will aim to replace all suppliers with renewable energy by April 2022.

The changing climate is leading to more frequent heatwaves and extreme weather events, last year alone more than 2,500 people died during heatwaves. As a result, the NHS as a whole is aiming for the emissions they control directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), to reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032.

In addition to helping meet climate targets for the local NHS trust, the vehicles will also help reduce air pollution in Stockport. Air pollution is linked to killer conditions like heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, and academics have linked high pollution days with hundreds of extra out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and hospital admissions for stroke and asthma.

Steve Whitehead, Head of Facilities at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said:

“We’re really pleased our electrics van are now up and running and that others will be joining it soon. We want to reduce pollution, improve sustainability and help the NHS reach its carbon neutral target wherever we can, and steps like bringing in the vans are a straightforward and effective way of moving towards this.” 

Dr Nick Watts, Chief Sustainability Officer for the NHS said:

“The evidence that the climate emergency is a health emergency is overwhelming, with health professionals already needing to manage its symptoms.  So, it is fantastic to see Stockport NHS Foundation Trust helping us to be on track to be the first health service in the world to achieve net zero. The UK is hosting the UN climate change Conference Of the Parties – COP26, which demonstrates that every part of our society need to play their part in reducing pollution and responding to climate change.”

Nationally, the NHS is on track to reduce its carbon emissions this financial year, equivalent to powering 1.1 million homes with electricity for a year, while it is calling on its 80,000 suppliers to commit to reducing their carbon footprint. Since 2010, the NHS has cut its emissions by 30%.