University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) are the largest employer in the city and generators of thousands of journeys every day. As such, easy access to the three main sites for staff, patients, and visitors is a high priority.
Within the local community there are existing concerns about accessibility to the hospitals in Leicester, particularly the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI), and a perception that this will worsen as a result of future developments. In response, UHL in 2019 had an updated Travel Plan produced that reflected some historical successes; however, overall take-up of sustainable travel has been in decline over the last decade.
Across Leicester and for the NHS across the UK, there is growing expectation and requirement for the NHS to be managing the impacts of changes made and ensure that all stakeholders are appropriately consulted and engaged.
GO Travel Solutions (GTS) were commissioned on this project from September 2020 until April 2023. In the time they worked with the Trust Travelwise Manager, Ruth Ward to create a roadmap of actions going forward to support access to UHL sites for staff, patients, and visitors.
Project objectives
- Develop a practical and costed Travel Action Plan aligned with UHL’s sustainability and accessibility goals.
- Support improved transport options to enhance access to UHL sites.
- Engage and coordinate with a broad range of stakeholders across public, private, and third sectors.
- Increase the uptake of sustainable travel among staff, patients, and visitors.
- Secure stakeholder investment and support for implementation.
Solutions
Solutions delivered
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GTS worked with Ruth Ward and the other stakeholders to expand on the initiatives suggested within the original Travel Plan and build them into a Travel Action Plan. This formed the basis of those initiatives and actions.
A list of priority actions was identified and costed, and funding sources identified.
By supporting the Trust and working with local transport providers and enablers, GTS played a key role in the delivery of the priorities identified in the Travel Action Plan.
Significant progress was made during the project. Here are some of the highlights:
- Approval of the Travel Action Plan by the UHL Trust Board in March 2021.
- A cross-site Dr Bike Programme.
- Extension of the PlusBus scheme to include the Hospital Hopper bus service.
- New electric buses for the Hospital Hopper with a new brand and charging at depot.
- Additional seasonal Hopper buses for when university students start.
- Free tickets and staff discounts provided by Arriva and Firstbus.
Impact & outcomes
- 1585 staff members signed up to SmartGO (SmartGO is the workplace travel package which provides a platform for individuals to redeem discounts and offers for sustainable travel such bus, train, cycling)
- 962 offers redeemed via the SmartGO platform
- Improvements to cycle sheds across all sites.
- Change to Hospital Hopper timetable for afternoon peak reliability.
- Creation of effective partnerships with all stakeholders, in turn helping to secure additional investment into the UHL Travel Action Plan.
Working with GO Travel Solutions has raised the profile of travel within the Trust. They have given us the opportunity and momentum to move forward on travel initiatives. The level of engagement from all parties would not have been possible without them. The knowledge, expertise and links GO Travel Solutions have has allowed the Trust to make great steps forward.
Next steps?
