Supporting Community Staff with Smarter Travel

Community healthcare teams face a unique challenge. Their role requires frequent travel between patient visits, often navigating busy urban environments where traffic, parking difficulties, and rising fuel costs can affect both productivity and staff wellbeing.

To address these challenges, Oxleas partnered with DASH to introduce a fleet of e-bikes for their community staff. More than simply supplying bikes, DASH delivered a complete managed solution designed to make active travel more practical and accessible.

Each e-bike is provided with a helmet, lock, pannier and wet weather gear. Staff can easily access the fleet through DASH's online booking platform, allowing them to check availability and reserve bikes for as long as required. The service also includes regular maintenance and quarterly mileage reporting, giving the Trust valuable insight into usage and environmental impact.

Strong Results from Day One

The pilot began with a fleet of 8 e-bikes of different shapes and sizes, and the results quickly demonstrated significant demand from staff.

During the first year, the fleet covered approximately 4,500 miles. By year two, that figure had doubled, showing growing confidence in the offering and increasing adoption across teams. The success of the scheme has now led to further investment, with expansion in its third year to 12 e-bikes operating across two hospitals.

The continued growth of the scheme reflects its ability to deliver real value for both staff and the Trust.

Improving Staff Wellbeing

One of the most encouraging outcomes has been the overwhelmingly positive feedback from employees using the e-bikes.

Community staff report feeling more in control of their daily journeys, avoiding traffic and removing the stress of parking between visits. The flexibility offered by e-bikes has helped make travel more predictable, allowing staff to focus more of their time and energy on actual patient care.

The pilot has also played a factor in attracting and retaining staff. Some employees have reported that the availability of e-bikes influenced their decision to work for Oxleas rather than other Trusts where similar sustainable travel options were not available.

Delivering Better Patient Outcomes

The benefits extend beyond staff experience. By allowing quicker travel between visits, staff have reported being able to see more patients during their working day compared to their previous modes of transport.

For NHS Trusts under increasing pressure to deliver services faster, this shows how sustainable transport can contribute directly to operational efficiency.

The scheme has shown that investing in active travel is not simply an environmental initiative, but can also support productivity and improve service quality.

Sustainability in Action

As NHS Trusts continue working towards ambitious net zero targets, transport remains a significant area of focus.

The thousands of miles travelled by Oxleas staff on e-bikes represent journeys that may otherwise have been completed in private cars or grey fleet vehicles. By replacing these with e-bikes, the Trust is reducing emissions while simultaneously encouraging healthier and more active travel habits among its staff.

The recognition received through the Healthcare Estates & Facilities Management Sustainability Award demonstrates how practical, scalable transport solutions can contribute towards meaningful sustainability outcomes.

Looking Ahead

The expansion of the scheme from eight to twelve e-bikes across multiple sites marks an exciting new chapter for sustainable transport at the Trust. What began as a pilot has evolved into an award-winning initiative that is improving staff wellbeing, supporting patient care, and helping Oxleas achieve its sustainability goals.

For NHS Trusts or any other organisation considering how to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and promote employee wellbeing, the success of Oxleas provides a compelling example of what can be achieved.

At DASH, we're proud to support organisations like Oxleas with a fleet e-bike solution that makes sustainable travel simple, accessible, and effective. As the scheme moves into its third year, it stands as a powerful reminder that small changes in how people travel can create a lasting impact for staff, patients, and the wider community.