Community Health Partnerships (CHP) has installed two electric vehicle (EV) charging points at St Oswald’s Community Hospital, Ashbourne Derbyshire, partnering with Southern Derbyshire LIFT Company Limited (LIFTCo) and Eon alongside the Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) team. The charging points have been operational since February 2024, with positive feedback received from the NHS physiotherapy staff based at the Hospital.
As the head tenant in 308 modern, adaptable primary care facilities across England, CHP plays a crucial role in providing sustainable healthcare facilities supporting the NHS aim to be the world’s first net zero healthcare system. These facilities, strategically located in areas of high health need, offer flexible, well-utilised, and welcoming spaces.
The Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust physiotherapy team is based at St Oswald’s and undertakes regular visits to patients in their homes in the local community. The physiotherapy team requested a dedicated charging point for their newly ordered electric car.
CHP purchased the electric vehicle charging points and cabling, Eon installed the charge points, cabling, and groundworks; FES (the LIFTCo FM contractors) arranged for connections within the building plant room and project managed the works programme by working with the local CHP Property and Operations team.
The physiotherapy pool car is charged and used daily, while the other charger is available for staff use.
CHP are thrilled to partner with LIFTCo and Eon to bring electric vehicle charging to St Oswald’s Community Hospital. This installation of EV charging points is a tangible step towards achieving the Greener NHS ambitions and demonstrates our commitment to a healthier, more sustainable future for our local communities.
This is a great addition to St Oswald’s Hospital and a move towards being a more sustainable site. It was initially arranged to accommodate the Derbyshire Community Health Service, EV pool vehicle for the hospital and the decision was taken to install a dual charging point so staff can also charge their vehicles too. The installation works have been done in a way that will also enable us to extend this further in the future, as and when demand requires this.
This has been a great opportunity to increase the use of electric vehicles in our organisation and as part of our commitment to reduce our carbon emissions and minimising our impact on the environment.
We already had electric vehicle charging points at seven of our NHS sites and the addition of electric charging points at St Oswald’s Hospital in Ashbourne has now increased our capability to move more of our fleet to electric vehicles in line with our sustainability strategy. We are grateful for the help of Community Health Partnerships in making this possible at St Oswald’s Hospital where colleagues in our hospital discharge team, amongst others, will now be enabled to make their patient visits in electric vehicles.”
LIFTCo and FES were happy to be a part of this project which is a positive step towards improving the environmental impact of the services being provided at this site. We learnt some valuable lessons which can be utilised on future projects of this nature and look forward to further opportunities to improve the sustainability of our facilities.
The NHS Commitment to Reducing Air Pollution for a Greener NHS
Outdoor air pollution is a significant public health concern, responsible for an estimated 28,000 to 36,000 deaths annually in the UK. Poor air quality contributes to lung cancer, exacerbates asthma, and impacts respiratory and cardiovascular health, leading to increased hospital admissions. Children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions are disproportionately affected by air pollution.
The Benefits of electric vehicle use across the NHS include:
- Reduced Emissions: By promoting electric vehicles, CHP contributes to cleaner air around our health facilities, improving air quality and the environment while also improving the health of local residents.
- Improved facilities for Staff and Visitors: Staff and visitors with EVs can now conveniently charge their vehicles while at the hospital, potentially encouraging a switch to cleaner transportation.
- Support the NHS Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy: By encouraging the decarbonisation of fleet, staff and visitor transport will help deliver high-quality, sustainable care.
Electric vehicle charging initiatives align with the ‘NHS Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy’ which outlines a roadmap for decarbonising the NHS fleet by 2035, with ambulances following by 2040. This strategy outlines the economic, health and societal benefits of decarbonising NHS travel and transport including the impact of staff commuting journeys. The NHS fleet is the second largest fleet in the country, with over 20,000 vehicles travelling over 460 million miles every year. Just under 10 billion road miles per annum (3.5% of the UK total) is directly related to the NHS including patient travel and staff commuting.
CHP Investing in the Future: Expanding Electric Vehicle Charging Points
CHP is taking action to expand the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions to our health centres across England. We work closely with local LIFTCo teams, tenants, and ICSs to understand individual site needs and ensure the chargers are the most suitable.
This initiative will make it easier for staff, patients, and visitors to choose cleaner greener transportation options. By providing convenient charging facilities, we hope to encourage a switch to EVs and further reduce air pollution in the area around our healthcare centres.
CHP Tenants: Helping you to reach your sustainability goals
CHP is committed to supporting our tenants in their sustainability efforts, including supporting the introduction of EV charging points. We offer a range of resources and expertise to help you, including identifying areas for improvement and implementing sustainable solutions. CHP’s Sustainability Team is here to assist you on your journey towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a significant contribution to a Greener NHS.
Please contact the Sustainability Team sustainability@communityhealthparternships.co.uk and your local Property and Operations team for further information.
Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
