3. Travel & Transport

Approximately 3.5% (9.5 billion miles) of all road travel in England relates to patients, visitors, staff and suppliers to the NHS, contributing around 14% of the system’s total emissions.

The travel and transport workstream of Greener NHS is implementing a range of interventions to reduce carbon emissions from travel relating to patients, visitors, staff and suppliers to the NHS.

This includes transitioning the NHS transport fleet to zero-emission vehicles, reducing unnecessary journeys and enabling healthier, active forms of travel such as cycling and walking.

   Travel and Transport at SFT

The Trust has established a multi-agency, Transport Strategy Steering Group (TSSG). Through this route we will continue to promote and deliver low carbon strategies to support Green Plan objectives.

Working with a leading provider we have established a platform to support ‘car sharing’ in the commute to and from work. 

In 2020 we installed 14, 7kw Electric Vehicle chargers, available to patients, staff and visitors. We plan to further expand this network and make the Estate ‘EV’ ready.

To promote the use of public transport we have agreed staff discounts in place with the local bus company.

The Non-Emergency Patient Transport service was successfully tendered in 2020 requiring the provider to evidence their progress towards an ultra-low (or zero) emission fleet.

Support for ‘active travel’ has included:

• Improved signage on cycle routes, to and from the Hospital
• Promotion of a ‘cycle to work’ scheme, linked to salary sacrifice
• Provided access to lockers and showers through ‘Active Travel’ membership of our Leisure Centre
• Increase the threshold in our cycle to work scheme, supporting the purchase of e-bikes

Our Sustainable Travel Plan

Our sustainable travel plan encourages staff and visitors to Salisbury District Hospital to use more sustainable forms of transport.

As the sustainable travel plan evolves, the Trust recognises that it may be appropriate to consider the adoption of further objectives and revisions to targets to ensure that the sustainable travel plan meets future travel demands and expectations.

We trust you will take the time to read this travel plan and in doing so appreciate what it is looking to achieve, what sustainable transport choices you can make and how these will improve the environment for all.