NHS fleets are turning to telematics in an effort to drive down costs and reduce carbon emissions in line with Government targets.

Organisations including NHS Lothian, NHS Trust Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, NHS Fife Health Board and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are using Cybit’s Fleetstar system to increase visibility of their fleets used for patient collection and transportation of important medical test results.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust fitted its vehicles with a glovebox mounted device from Minor Planet in April 2009 (Fleet News, April 29) which reduced its annual mileage by 220,000 miles. The latest telematics recruits are hoping to follow suit.

NHS Lothian, NHS Trust Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, NHS Fife Health Board and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hope to cut their combined mileage by around 600,000 per year – a 12% reduction.

Detailed reporting allows the organisations to verify and confirm deliveries as well as reduce corporate risk for mobile and lone worker employees.

Cybit told Fleet News that a growing number of public sector organisations were implementing telematics to drive efficiency savings in operational spend to meet Government targets.

“Organisations across the public sector are under increasing pressure to reduce costs,” said Steve Towe, director at Cybit.

All public sector organisations need 100% visibility of their vehicles, especially in the NHS, where there are so many vehicles on the road.

“Once you know where vehicles are and where they’re going, you can begin to manage travel costs,” said Jim McIlroy, NHS Fife transport manager.

“Telematics is an investment with a strong return. It really does increase visibility of your vehicles and costs.

“It is a perfect example of spend to save, which is why it should be at the top of public sector agendas.”

Gaming machine supplier Gamestec has signed a three-year deal with Northgate Vehicle Hire for 24 Mercedes Sprinter vans fitted with vehicle monitoring. Gamestec hopes to cut fuel costs and overtime claims by 10-15%.