Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of only two organisations in the past year and the first hospital in Essex to be awarded a prestigious gold award for green travel. Essex County Council hand out bronze, silver and gold awards to organisations with detailed travel plans who actively promote schemes to their staff, especially when it comes to green travel.
To achieve gold standard, the Trust had to provide evidence of compliance with a least 30 standards outlined by Essex County Council, including, for example a car share scheme, discounts for bicycle purchases, providing showers at work and improving information signs at the bus stop. The Trust also had to find out about the views and travel preferences of staff through a travel survey.
Jenny Galpin, Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “We are thrilled to be awarded the gold accreditation, especially as we are one of only two organisations in the whole of the county. We have worked hard to develop travel plans which include incentives for staff to stop relying on the car if possible and use other travel methods.”
The recent staff travel survey shows 69 per cent of staff travel alone by car, compared to 75 per cent in 2008. A further eight per cent car share and the remainder travel by public transport, walk, cycle or ride a motorbike.
Well thank god for that. I’ll feel much more confident about the treatment Basildon hospital hands out to those unfortunate enough to have to use it.