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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.
While 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.
“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.”
George Menon, emergency department sustainability fellow.
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