Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle Hospitals have signed a commitment alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to ask ambulance crews to turn off their engines when they stop at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, the Freeman Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Whilst the commitment, which has been signed by the chief executives of all three trusts, primarily focuses on ambulances, it will also be extended to public car parks and drop-off bays to highlight the environmental and health risks that come with leaving an engine running.
Leaving engines running whilst stationary concentrates harmful emissions, such as nitrous oxide, which can have damaging health impacts on patients, staff and visitors, especially those who are vulnerable and have underlying health conditions.
Whilst there will be some occasions where ambulance crews are unable to turn off their engines – such as cooling or warming vehicles or using critical equipment – the ambulance service believes this small step can have a large impact.
George Menon, emergency department sustainability fellow, said: “Emergency departments, by their nature, are resource heavy so we must target areas where it’s possible to make sustainable changes while maintaining our high level of patient care.
“By working through the action points set out by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, we have been able to make significant positive change and work towards becoming an accredited Green Emergency Department. Implementing a no idling policy for vehicles outside the department is one of those actions.”
Head of sustainability, Clare Winter, said: “Through signing this commitment we are encouraging ambulance crews to turn off their engines when it’s not necessary to have them running. Everyone’s contribution to this will make a significant difference in reducing pollution levels.
“Implementing this change also aligns with our net zero by 2040 as stated in the Net Zero Northumbria Action Plan.”
Martin Gibson, environmental sustainability manager at NEAS, said: “Our ambulance crews serve the whole of the North East, from the borders of Yorkshire to Scotland. Therefore, although this commitment specifically covers Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary, we are applying this same principle across the region to all our staff and volunteers.
“There will be some occasions when it isn’t possible to turn off engines, such as when theyneed to cool or warm their vehicle or using critical equipment. But with more than 400 NEAS vehicles on the road at any given time, we think we can make a significant impact on the health of our local population, including our own colleagues, by switching them off when we are able to.”
Anna-Lisa Mills, sustainability manager at Newcastle Hospitals said: “We are delighted to be joining Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and North East Ambulance Service in this commitment to going vehicle idling free. Vehicle idling concentrates harmful pollution on our sites and air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks to health and a contributor to climate change.
“One of the goals of our Climate Emergency Strategy is that we will have clean air in and around our hospitals for patients, staff and visitors and we have signed up to the Clean Air Hospital Framework to achieve this important goal. Agreeing to go idling free is an essential step to help us improve our air quality.”