A report on the current challenges surrounding sustainable transport and active travel across NHSScotland. 

What is the report about?

The ‘State of the Nation’ report is a high-level assessment of sustainable and active travel across NHSScotland. 

It is not intended to provide all the answers, but rather highlight challenges, issues, and provide recommendations for further discussion and future work across the Sustainability Action programme. 

What are the key messages?

The key messages of the report are:

• sustained behaviour change is a critical component of increased active travel, yet car culture is a deeply engrained element of society 

• in addition to behaviour change, active and sustainable transport requires a shift in how spaces are designed, accessed, and planned for. Cross-sector and partnership working is fundamental to achieving this 

• more active travel supports the aims of Public Health Scotland and NHSScotland at large, and is associated with significant health benefits 

• despite challenges, there are multiple success stories across NHSScotland boards and, as an anchor organisation, the NHS is well positioned to advance active and sustainable travel opportunities 

What are the recommendations?

The main recommendations from the report are:

Resource

• dedicated resource for active travel is considered a priority, given its link to improved health outcomes and being an integral part of achieving climate change targets 

Active travel

• boards implement or review cycle to work schemes  

• travel policies are developed and implemented, in cases where they are not already in place 

• where travel policies are in place, they are reviewed and refreshed as appropriate to ensure consistency with relevant guidance 

• boards strive for Cycling Friendly Employer awards wherever possible, with the aim to have all sites covered wherever practical and feasible

Business travel

• business mileage and sustainability reporting considerations form an integral part of any future changes to national payroll and expenses systems 

• all boards draft and implement a travel policy which adopts a digital first approach. In instances where policies already exist, they are updated appropriately in line with appropriate guidance 

• business travel expenses are viewed as a key CRES opportunity and boards opt for a percentage reduction in business travel spend if not already in place 

Further information

The report is intended to prompt discussion at both a national and NHS board level around the future of more sustainable travel in the context of the NHS, including future priorities within the Sustainability Action programme.  

Contact Michael.simpson@nhs.scot or Emily.Farquhar3@nhs.scot to find out more. 

Photo by Fahrul Azmi