Improvement in air quality at a UK hospital due to decrease in delivery vehicle count

In a commendable move towards sustainability, NHS Supply Chain, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Wessex Procurement have collaborated on a project to streamline hospital deliveries and reduce air pollution.

The project, which demonstrates the significant benefits of exploring simple changes to ordering and delivery patterns, has been a resounding success. By reviewing ordering patterns at the hospital, NHS Supply Chain's network optimisation team identified improvements such as consolidating delivery days and spreading them more evenly across the week.

This strategic change has led to a reduction in the number of vehicle deliveries per month from 59 to 41, eliminating mixed and half-full cages, and recording 338 fewer cage movements. As a result, NHS Supply Chain recorded a significant reduction in requisition point delivery days from 547 per month to 97, representing an 82% reduction.

The project has brought about numerous benefits. NHS Supply Chain deliveries are now more manageable for hospital staff, easing their workload on peak delivery days. Moreover, the hospital has been able to repurpose storage space, reducing stock-holding pressures in materials management.

One of the most notable advantages is the improvement in air quality at the hospital. With fewer deliveries, there has been a reduction in NO2 and particulate emissions, lowering the risk of health and safety incidents such as slips, trips, and falls due to fewer cage movements. Furthermore, the project has reduced health risks associated with poor air quality for patients, staff, and visitors.

Heidi Barnard, head of sustainability at NHS Supply Chain, stated, "Supporting the NHS to reach net zero by 2045 is crucial and one of NHS Supply Chain's key goals." The team identified zero-cost ways to cut vehicle emissions from deliveries, contributing to improved air quality and supporting sustainability goals.

The project involves working with air quality monitoring specialists EMSOL. Notably, the project aligns with the NHS' Green Plan, which aims to make the NHS the world's leading healthcare system in sustainability.

The achievements and innovations in clean air initiatives will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. However, the search results do not contain specific information about who attended the award ceremony.

With optimised scheduling, fewer delivery vehicles are attending the hospital, projecting an annual CO reduction of 972kg at the site. The success of this project serves as a shining example of how collaborative efforts can lead to significant improvements in sustainability and air quality.

Improvement in air quality at a UK hospital due to decrease in delivery vehicle count