A Greener NHS

Louise Webster takes up her new role as Sustainable Development Manager at NHS Somerset

To help oversee and monitor the local health service sustainability agenda, and to address the national NHS campaign to tackle climate change at a local level, NHS Somerset has appointed Louise Webster to the post of Sustainable Development Manager.

She said: “With an annual budget of over £750 million a year NHS Somerset wishes to act responsibly as an employer, a purchaser of goods and services, a manager of transport, energy, water, waste, and as a landholder and commissioner of building work.”

The message is that we must live more sustainable lives right now. Among Louise’s responsibilities is the NHS travel plan for its Yeovil Headquarters, to encourage swapping the car for other alternatives by staff. Among the plans currently being drawn up include:

  • Partnership working with other employers
  • Smarter travel incentives
  • Green Travel Group
  • Local recruitment/relocation packages
  • Site-specific travel information leaflet and noticeboards
  • Discounted cycle purchasing scheme
  • Website information
  • Motorcycle parking spaces
  • Lockers, showers and cycle parking

Louise is also making use of Somerset County Council’s iOnTRAVEL system to help manage her travel plan.

For further information about travel plans, you can download our specific leaflet to help GP surgeries and hospitals give their staff and customers better access to local services.