The NHS Trust which runs Hereford’s County Hospital is not making the scale of cuts in carbon emissions being demanded by the government, new research shows.

According to official information, it does not currently have a sustainable plan or a target to aim at.

But even when it did, Wye Valley NHS Trust admits it was not going to hit it.

It is not alone, with almost two thirds of NHS Trusts across the country being ranked as failing.

But it’s not all bad news. Wye Valley has reduced its carbon output by 13% and more is being done currently.

According to NHS Digital, a government body that compiles information about the health service, Wye Valley Trust does NOT have a transport plan or sustainability plan to cut its carbon emissions.

The Trust says it does have plans and is working to a target, but they do not show up on official figures yet because they still need to be ratified by the Trust board.

The Trust say they were given a target of 20% reduction by 2020 but admit that ‘we were not on track to meet it.’

Putting LED lights in hospitals this year is expected to bring total carbon reduction up to 15%.

“We’re also exploring the installation of roof-mounted solar panels for Trust owned properties, to reduce the carbon produced to the target of 20%”, said a spokesperson.

“From April next year, the intention is that all electricity consumed on Trust premises will be from 100 per cent green renewable sources.”

It is also looking at using electric vehicles to cut transportation pollution.

“Of course, there is always more that can be done and the Trust is currently refreshing its Sustainability Plan and developing more schemes to allow it to improve its green credentials further.”

Carbon emissions by the NHS are a big issue because, at a time of ‘climate emergency’, health and adult social services account for 40% of all the carbon dioxide emissions by the public sector.

Overall, the government has asked for a reduction of 34% in carbon dioxide emissions from building energy use, travel and acquiring goods and services by 2020. That rises to 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2050.

Nationally the NHS says it has cut emissions by 18.5%.