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The Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care has announced the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator scheme. The scheme is an investment of £8 million from Office for Zero Emission Vehicles for the installation of on-site electric vehicle chargepoints to support electrification of the NHS fleet.

As part of this scheme, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has been awarded £400,200 to install 51 electrical vehicle chargepoints at several of its sites.

Investing in electrical chargepoints will deliver reductions in fuel and maintenance costs that can be redirected into front line care. This investment will deliver savings of £130 million for the NHS over the next 25 years, with an estimated average return on investment in just four years. The wider social benefits from reduced emissions and improved air quality are valued at a further £93million.

Martin Jones, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities at the Trust said: “We’re pleased that the Trust has been awarded funding for a further 51 electrical vehicle chargepoints at many of our sites. This represents noteable progression in our commitments to achieving net zero. By expanding the network, we're providing more sustainable transport options and creating a cleaner, greener future for our local communities."

NHS Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Gormley said: “The NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that reduce emissions and drive significant cost savings, all while improving patient care. This new £8 million investment, across 62 NHS Trusts and around 224 sites, supports the renewed commitment in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to deliver a more sustainable NHS while also helping hospitals to save millions on fuel and maintenance costs and reducing air pollution. These savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities.”