Keeping warm in the cold snap and reducing diesel emissions

08.01.25

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is taking new steps to reduce its diesel emissions.

The Trust has procured fan heaters for its fleet of emergency ambulances to keep patients and staff warm as they wait outside hospital emergency departments.

Ambulance engines normally have to remain switched on to keep essential equipment running and for warmth, but the newly-procured bladeless fan heaters mean engines can now be switched off, reducing diesel emissions.

Liam Williams, the Trust’s Executive Director of Quality and Nursing, said: “The well-documented pressures across the system mean that some patients spend a considerable amount of time in the ambulance before handover to the emergency department.

“In turn, that means both patients and staff can be exposed to diesel emissions for long periods of time, which is clearly very unpleasant and absolutely not the experience we want anyone to have.

“We continue to work with partners to reduce handover delays and are thinking differently about the ambulance service of the future, with a focus on providing care closer to a patient’s home, which will negate the need to take them to hospital in the first place.

“Meanwhile, in the busy winter period, we’re doing all we can in the short term to protect our people and our patients, and the procurement of fan heaters supports that.”

The multi-functional bladeless fan heaters have the ability to heat and cool, as well as capture airborne dust, allergens, odours, bacteria and other pollutants.

The aim is for every emergency department in Wales to have the infrastructure in place to allow crews to use the bladeless fan heaters in the coming weeks.

Graham Stockford, the Trust’s Deputy Head of Health and Safety, said: “The procurement of fan heaters is one of a number of actions we’re taking to reduce diesel fumes, which also includes the installation of shorelines at hospitals to reduce engine idling and maintain vehicle battery levels.

“It’s part of a broader effort by our ambulance service to reduce our environmental footprint and support Welsh Government’s ambition for a carbon net zero public sector by 2030, and for Wales to become carbon neutral by 2050.

“We’re especially grateful to our Trade Union colleagues for their continued support to pro-actively address this issue.”

Trade Union Joint Secretary Damon Turner said: “We are pleased to see these heaters come online.

“Being delayed outside emergency departments for many hours is unpleasant enough, but to also endure fumes for long periods adds to the worry and is not acceptable to our members, or patients.”

Trade Union Joint Secretary Hugh Parry added: “This is a positive step towards eradicating the need to run engines or diesel heaters at hospitals.”