NHS Grampian aims to create a working environment that promotes active and sustainable travel, benefiting the health of our staff, patients and visitors.
What is Active Travel?
Active travel is simply making journeys in a way which is physically active, including walking, cycling or wheeling*. Taking public transport is a more sustainable option than driving and includes active travel to and from stations.
Why choose Active Travel?
By travelling actively, we can improve our health as well as reduce environmental impacts and create safer, more pleasant communities. Choosing to leave the car at home and walking instead for short journeys is a simple way to get more exercise into your day.
Health benefits of Active Travel
Physical activity, and therefore, active travel can reduce the risk of ill health, as well as benefitting mental health and reducing levels of depression and stress. Getting stuck in traffic and finding a parking space can be stressful whereas walking or cycling gives you time and space to clear your head. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and traffic noise.
What is NHS Grampian doing about Active Travel?
NHS Grampian was a recipient of SUSTRANS Spaces for People funding and this has enabled us to improve facilities for cyclists, including:
- The installation of 2 secure bike sheds on the Foresterhill site
- The installation of 1 secure bike shed at Royal Cornhill Hospital
- Bike pods installed at Dr Grays hospital, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Woodend Hospital
- The purchase of a fleet of ebikes and cargo bikes for staff travel
NHS Grampian has also worked with Cycling Scotland to improve cycling infrastructure on NHS Grampian properties.
NHS Grampian works with Paths for All to run an annual step count challenge for staff which has become one of the largest in Scotland; 1,700 people took part in the 2024 competition. In 2023 NHS Grampian won the Health Care Professional Walking Champion category of the Scottish Walking Awards via Ramblers Scotland in part due to the Step Count Challenge and the extensive improvements in and around the Royal Cornhill Hospital site for walking which led to RCH receiving Paths for All’s ‘Walk at work’ award. See https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-09717
NHS Grampian is currently reviewing its Active and Sustainable Travel Plan Strategy and its Travel Plan for the Foresterhill site.
We work collaboratively with local partners including NESTRANS and GETABOUT
You may wish to view the latest Health & Transport Action Plan produced by NESTRANS with contributions from NHS Grampian: https://www.nestrans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HTAP-Annual-Report-2022-2023.pdf
For more information or to join our active travel mailing list please email gram.activetravel@nhs.scot
