UK first as all patient ambulances go electric
Our Trust has achieved another sustainability first. Our patient transport ambulance fleet is now completely electric – the only one in the UK.
It follows the delivery of the first ever all electric patient transport ambulance to Hillingdon Hospital in August 2021. This initiative won us an award.
Now we have 12 of the vehicles serving both our hospital sites. Operated by HATS Group and built by Blue Light Services on a Renault chassis, the ambulances are recharged overnight using the numerous electric vehicle charging points in our car parks.
Kurt Vilaroel, Trust transport manager, said he was proud of our latest achievement. “We are the only Trust to be able to say that we run 100% ‘green’ ambulances,” he said.
Deon Beck, HATS regional operations manager, said achieving 100% electric non-emergency patient transport ‘in the current climate’ was a real achievement.
To be in a partnership with your Trust, therefore, fills me with pride, and I hope that patients will benefit from this for many years to come
“To be the first mover on anything is wonderful,” he said. “To be in a partnership with your Trust, therefore, fills me with pride, and I hope that patients will benefit from this for many years to come.”
The move to electric patient transport ambulances started back in 2020, following the launch of the ‘For a Greener NHS’ campaign nationally. Our Trust drew up a Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan, with one aim being to reduce the carbon emissions from non-emergency patient transport, which accounted for 70% of the Trust’s transport-related emissions. Achieving a completely electric patient transport ambulance fleets puts us 10 years ahead of the NHS Net Zero target.
Hyder Mohammad, our Trust’s head of sustainability, said this latest milestone was proof our Trust’s commitment to reaching ‘net zero’ by 2040.
“We’re proud to be the first in the NHS to have a patient transport ambulance fleet that is totally electric, giving an enhanced patient experience while eliminating damaging emissions.
“This progress is clear evidence of the NHS delivering net-zero innovation through collaborative partnership work. Despite challenging NHS finances and the usual hurdles of investing in new innovations, the Trust demonstrated that by sharing commitments and resources, these targets are achievable.
"We will be looking for other innovations across our Trust to help to make us sustainable in the years ahead.”