2013

Report by Eric Green, Head of Estates, on behalf of Nick Kenton, Director of Finance

The Asset Management Group is asked to:

  • Approve the replacement of 14 vans in the Estates department.
  • Note the improvement in carbon emmissions that this will provide.

1.Background

The Estatesdepartment of NHS Highland provides maintenance services to all our hospitals and health centres. This requires the use of a fleet of vans to transport trade staff and materials to locations all over Highland. These vans are leased through national contracts and 14 of the 22 vans are due for replacement as the 5 year lease is coming to an end.

2. Proposed Way Forward

The proposal is to replace the existing fleet of Vauxhall Astra, Combo and Vivaro vans with Volkswagen Caddy and Transporter vans. A thorough review of the vehicles has been undertaken and an assessment of each individual vehicle undertaken to determine the most efficient type of van for each work type. This is essential as this will ensure the right balance between size, load carrying capacity and access to provide the most efficient vehicle for each task.

This has resulted in two significant changes; a reduction in the number of larger vans of two and a replacement of two personal lease vehicles with pool vans to allow greater flexibility and a reduction in hire vehicles.

Full consideration has been taken of fuel economy and carbon emissions, this case is expected to produce increased fuel efficiency of an average 10 miles per gallon. This will obviously help our financial position but is likely to only offset rises in fuel prices. This will produce a 9% reduction in our carbon emissions as well.

There is no capital cost to this, this is a revenue funded replacement lease, this is included in all our financial plans and forecasts.

  1. Contribution to Board Objectives

This proposal contributes to the Board’s objectives of providing quality care in the most appropriate setting. It also contributes to ensuring the highest possible standards of patient safety in that we will be able to maintain and repair assets across Highland quickly and efficiently.

In addition we are working with Public Health to use the vans to promote public health messages. As our vans reach all parts of the Highlands we will use them to advertise key public health messages. Research shows this is a very cost-effective method of advertising, one we have previously not used.

  1. Governance Implications

This strategy has been approved by our Transport Manager.

  • Staff Governance

There are no staff governance issues.

  • Patient and Public

There are no patient and public issues.

  • Clinical Governance

There are no issues in this area.

  • Financial Impact

This will be met from the existing revenue budgets.

  1. Risk Assessment

Implementation of the strategy will ensure that we continue to deliver the services we already deliver.

  1. Planning for Fairness

This work ensures fair and equitable access to services across Highland.

  1. Engagement and Communication

This is straight forward replacement with a modern equivalent and is unlikely to have any

issues. A communication strategy of the Public Health advertising will be implemented when the vans are put into service.

  1. Conclusion

The Board is asked to endorse this proposal.

Eric Green

Head of Estates

NHS Highland

20 September 2013

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