Staff parking is an increasingly difficult area for estates teams to manage, particularly at a time where space is at a premium and simply building new car parks is not a viable option. Here, Ciara Spreadbury, business development & account manager at Mobile Worker Plus – creator of permit and pass management software OCTOPASS – looks at how digital permit systems can help NHS Trusts manage busy hospital sites, reduce unnecessary journeys, and improve the experience for staff.
NHS estates teams are under increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions while managing limited space across hospital sites. While many sustainability projects focus on buildings, the staff commute is another area where estates teams can make a real impact. Staff parking is often seen as a basic operational task, but for many NHS sites it has become one of the most difficult areas to manage. With limited land available and growing sustainability targets, parking management is now becoming an important part of estate strategy.
The NHS occupies one of the largest and most complex estates in Europe. With the mandate to reach Net Zero for its direct emissions by 2040, and for its Carbon Footprint Plus (including the supply chain and commuting) by 2045, every square meter of the estate is under scrutiny.
Staff commuting accounts for approximately four per cent of the total NHS carbon footprint. While an Estate Manager cannot mandate the specific vehicle a clinician chooses to buy, they still have an important tool available: controlling who can access parking on site. By controlling access to the physical estate, the Trust can influence travel behaviour.
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