The QE Hospital is the first NHS organisation in the North East Combined Authority area to have achieved a Go Smarter Platinum Accreditation Award.
QEF’s Andy Colwell - Head of Facilities [right] & Sarah Needham – Sustainability Manger [left] received Platinum Accreditation Award presented by Go Smarter’s Jessica Anderson [centre].
Go Smarter, is the Government programme that encourages everyone to travel more sustainably on their everyday journeys.
Some of the initiatives QEF have delivered on behalf of the QE Hospital, part of the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, now include a staff bus ‘hopper’ service between sites, which allows staff to travel without having to use their individual cars; a pool of electric cars as part of the QEF transport courier vehicle fleet, Employee and visitor electric Vehicle changing points ; and information about travelling sustainably on the hospital website.
The QE Hospital is also a member of the Go Smarter Business Network, which gives businesses across the region access to travel discounts and networking opportunities.
The Accreditation Awards are given to businesses across the region for their ongoing commitment to sustainable travel, through encouraging their workforces to use walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing on their daily commutes to work, and even for encouraging their visitors to think about travelling more sustainably.
Gold, silver and bronze awards have been awarded during the course of the programme over the last five years, but the Platinum Accreditation Award is the highest achievement that can be made by a business engaged with the Go Smarter to Work programme.
Sarah Needham, Sustainability, Waste & PAM Manager at QE Facilities, said:
"We are absolutely delighted to have achieved the Platinum Accreditation Award. As an organisation, QEF have worked hard with Go Smarter to Work since 2015 and encouraged our employees to consider making the switch from using their cars for commuting to and from work, to using sustainable modes.
"Sustainable travel has some fantastic benefits for employees in terms of health and fitness and for the hospital in the long term. We will continue to think about different initiatives that will continue to encourage this behaviour change."
Jessica Anderson, Programme Manager for Go Smarter, said:
"On behalf of the programme, I am thrilled that the QE Hospital has achieved our Platinum Award. The staff have put in some outstanding work and deserve their success."