Two Nissan LEAFs will be deployed to allow staff to travel between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospital sites using electricity, while the catering department recently added an electric van for food deliveries between the two sites.

The Trust said it had chosen the Nissan LEAF because it is built in the UK, and added that the batteries can be recycled at the end of the vehicles’ life cycle. A charging point has been installed on site for staff, with a second one providing free charging for visitors.

Sustainability Officer Steven Fall said: ‘Electric vehicles have an important role to play in reducing CO2 emissions and will also enable our Trust to achieve long-term savings compared to using standard petrol or diesel vehicles.’