The NHS is set to roll out electric vehicles this summer, with the aim of relieving pressure on ambulance services and helping the NHS on its road to net zero.

The vehicles form part of a £2.1 million investment.

21 zero-emission vehicles are being trialled by eight ambulance trusts. Six of the new vehicles are for mental health response - they are designed to cut emergency response times and reduce pressure on double-crewed ambulances.

The new mental health response vehicles are different from traditional ambulances in that they have fewer fluorescent markings and a less clinical interior to help patients feel more comfortable. These vehicles are already in use in the North West.

There are also vehicles to attend less severe emergencies and vehicles to transfer seriously ill patients to and from high dependency units.

Dr Nick Watts, Chief Sustainability Officer at NHS England said: “We know that climate change has an impact on health, and the NHS can play its part in preventing ill-health by looking at new ways to reduce emissions.
“Each electric vehicle costs less to run and maintain, meaning these new vehicles will spend more time on the road and change the way we deliver care in the community – whilst also cutting our carbon footprint as we strive to make NHS services greener and more efficient as part of our ambition to hit net zero by 2040”.

Claire Murdoch, National Director for Mental Health at NHS England said: “The mental health response vehicles in this new green fleet are an important addition to mental health care, and we have a double win of being able to improve the experience of patients in crisis whilst also caring for the planet”.