Community nurses in Nottingham have swapped four wheels for two thanks to a travel grant scheme run by the city council.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was successful in applying for funding through Nottingham City Council’s Workplace Travel Service.

These are available for local businesses, charity or voluntary groups and public-sector organisations to help them save money by enabling their staff to get around in a greener, cleaner way.

Grants are funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and Nottingham’s Workplace Parking Levy, which means businesses and organisations in the city are supported with sustainable workplace travel improvements at no cost to the council.

The healthcare trust secured £20,000 through the scheme to allow its nurses to ditch their cars on local trips to visit patients – and travel by e-bike instead.

Six pool e-bikes are now used by community nursing teams, which helps the NHS towards its net-zero goals while enabling local healthcare workers to get around Nottingham visiting patients without getting delayed by traffic jams.

It also paid for two EV chargers at Highbury Hospital for fleet use, plus helmets, lights, pumps and high-visibility safety clothing.

Councillor Patience Ifediora, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport ay Nottingham City Council, said: “Helping local businesses, public-sector organisations and charities to become greener and cut harmful air pollution is a key goal of the council, and I’m delighted that our Workplace Travel Service continues to make a big difference locally.

“This grant for the NHS reminds me a little of Call The Midwife on television and it’s great that nurses are now able to get out into the community to care for patients on bikes. This is better for the environment, helps takes pressure of Nottingham’s road network and is great exercise, too.

“I encourage all local businesses and organisations to think about what green travel improvements they could benefit from and then apply via our friendly team.”

Becky Sutton, Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Sponsor for Sustainability, said: “In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching net-zero carbon emissions, recognising the growing threat that climate change poses to people’s health.

“We’re grateful to Nottingham City Council for supporting this initiative, which enables our community nursing teams to travel more sustainably while continuing to provide care to patients in their own homes.

“This is a great example of how collaboration can help us develop a greener healthcare system, improve local air quality and contribute to healthier communities for the future.”

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “We want to make it easier for people across the region to choose greener ways to travel, whether that’s by bike, public transport or electric vehicle.

“It’s brilliant to see Nottingham businesses and organisations making use of grants that I’m able to part-fund through EMCCA to help their staff travel more sustainably, from cycle shelters and shared bikes to EV charging points.

“These are practical changes that can make a real difference, helping to cut carbon, get more people walking and cycling, and improve health and wellbeing. We’re delighted to continue supporting the Workplace Travel Service and the businesses making these changes.”

The healthcare trust is a major provider of integrated healthcare services, employing more than 11,000 staff locally who work every day to help people live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

It delivers mental health, intellectual disability, community and forensic services. Care is centred around people and delivered in the settings where it is most needed – from secure hospitals to community hubs, GP surgeries and patients’ homes.

The trust’s Energy and Environment Team leads its sustainability agenda, which includes travel and transport as part of its 10-point Green Plan. The main reason to apply for the funding was to promote greener methods of transport, such as electric vehicles and cycling.

Nottingham businesses, public and voluntary-sector organisations and faith groups are encouraged to apply for a Workplace Travel Service grant, with up to £25,000 of funding available for things like cycle shelters, eCargo bikes, showers for cyclists and electric vehicle charging points.

If the application is successful, private businesses get 75 per cent of the net costs, while public, voluntary-sector and charity groups can apply for 100% net-funded grants.

Click here Workplace Travel Grant – Expression of Interest or call Peter Saunders, Workplace Travel advisor, on 0115 876 5640.

Pictured top are Jo Baker and Patrick Crolla from the team at Highbury Hospital.