Our Green Journey to Change
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) is due to launch its green plan later this year (2022).
The Green plan, supports the Trust to achieve its goals that are set out in its Journey to Change; to co-create a great experience for patient, carers and families, colleagues and partners.
It sets out the actions the Trust will take to meet its sustainability targets including:
- Green processes to help staff, patients and partners take part in and shape powerful sustainable development and climate action.
- Salary sacrifice arrangements to help colleagues access more affordable green travel arrangements.
- Implementing hybrid working arrangements to offer more flexible working and new opportunities. This will improve work life balance while reducing business and commute mileage.
- A commitment to partnership working to encourage procurements that are joint or deliver on our social value commitments.
- Increased collaboration to support the co-location of teams and services, including in partners’ premises, and vice versa, giving new opportunities for collective estate rationalisation and carbon reduction.
By encouraging sustainable development in all its forms, the Trust will continue to take positive steps to mitigate the effects of its activities on the environment.
Its leadership are committed to embedding sustainability within the organisation and working together with partners across the wide area that TEWV operates in to improve sustainability.
Our Green Journey to Change in action
Biodiversity
Greenspace and nature are important for the health and wellbeing of patients and colleagues. They are also great for the planet, helping to absorb carbon dioxide.
To enhance TEWV’s greenspace, the Trust is transforming a 3,500m2 area across four sites into wildflower meadows. It has also introduced four wellbeing gardens across the Trust and introduce a wooded walkway at Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham.
Electric vehicle infrastructure
The Trust has invested in more electric vehicle charging points across its sites and now has 60 for colleagues, patients and visitors to use.
Ten of these points are dedicated for estate vehicle use, as 32% of the estates department vehicles are 100% electric powered.