Driving A Cleaner Environment

Since achieving the ISO14001 Environmental Management standard we have sought not to ‘sell’ the idea of change to staff and customers but rather to integrate change by designing and implementing an effective environmental management system. This is a slow process and our recent re-accreditation visit shows we are on the right course.

We have in place an ambitious environmental programme outlining our plans to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing CO2 emissions and wherever possible by working with suppliers who have also embraced the concepts of environmental change management.

Innovations include recycling engine oil to run our heating system at our Centre of Excellence station in Alperton, West London, reducing paper by working with other healthcare clients to encourage web based patient bookings and by working with the Energy Saving Trust retraining operational staff on a smarter driving programme. Day to day activities ensure all staff can play their part by recycling plastics, cans bottle etc. and by reducing electricity and gas consumption.

We have added the Toyota Prius, the original hybrid car, to our ambulance fleet to cut carbon emission on the roads and the launch of our Crystal Clear Award for the best use of paper free technology has encouraged many hospitals to switch to booking patients online.

It is accepted that a sustainable environmental programme should be dynamic and we are working with others to move the boundaries further by considering both vehicle design and types of fuel used such as ensuring that the materials that make up our future vehicles can be recycled at the end of their life.

Medical Services have made a long-term commitment to ensuring environmental awareness remains high on the management agenda and will continue to work with others to ensure our carbon footprint is reduced.