Bid to double the number of hydrogen buses coming to Liverpool City Region

LIVERPOOL City Region's planned hydrogen bus fleet could double in size; before the 1st vehicle even hits the road. Funding is already in place to buy 20 double decker hydrogen buses to initially serve the City Region's busiest route, the 10A between St Helens and Liverpool City Centre.

A proposed bid for extra funding was discussed and agreed at last week's Combined Authority (CA) meeting, on Friday, 4 June 2021, that could see the hydrogen bus fleet increased to 40 vehicles; enough to fully service the route. The roll out of new zero emission hydrogen buses is a key part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's plans to deliver an integrated London style transport system.

Funding towards the additional hydrogen buses would come via a bid to the Government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Area scheme (ZEBRA). If successful, the funding would cover up to 75% of the cost difference between the highly efficient hydrogen vehicles and a standard bus. This would mean the ₤12.5m committed through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) already committed to the project could be spread over the cost of more vehicles, hugely increasing the size of the new fleet for the City Region.

The new buses will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells, a safe and reliable technology that lends itself well to heavy duty vehicles such as buses. Procurement has started for the City Region's hydrogen buses that are due to go into service next year.

The fleet is an important element of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's 'Vision for Bus,' which commits to using the powers available through devolution to build a better, more reliable and affordable bus network for the Liverpool City Region.

Broader plans for the project also include the building of hydrogen refuelling facilities, which will be the 1st of their kind in the North West. Construction of the refuelling facilities is planned to begin later in the year.

With the Liverpool City Region's Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, having set a target for the Liverpool City Region to become net zero carbon by 2040, hydrogen buses will join the existing fleet in the City Region which is already more than 70% low emissions. That's been achieved through the use of cleaner engines, hybrid and electric power and biome thane gas. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, said:- "My plans to deliver a London style transport system that is quick, cheap and reliable, and a Green Industrial Revolution that tackles the climate crisis while doubling the number of green jobs in the Region were overwhelmingly endorsed by people in every part of our area. I'm wasting no time in getting down to work and delivering them. 82% of all public transport journeys in our Region are taken by bus and this new fleet will give people a clean, green and comfortable way to get about. I'm already working to double the size of the fleet so more people can enjoy these buses and the improved air quality we'll get as a result."

As Emergency Departments become overwhelmed, patient safety is put at risk

ENGLAND'S Emergency Department performance figures recently published by NHS England for May 2021 show 1,396,193 patients attended Type 1 Emergency Departments, the second highest figure ever recorded. Data also show that nearly ⅓ of these patients, equal to 411,262 patients, were admitted via Type 1 EDs, the 4th highest figure ever recorded. And nearly 700 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more, with a ⅓ increase on the previous month, April 2021.  While data on Ambulance Quality Indicators published by NHS England for May 2021 show the highest number of incidents ever recorded with 800,094 contacts.

Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:- "Emergency Departments are becoming overwhelmed. Across the country we are hearing that sites are reporting record breaking numbers of patients. The sheer volume is putting severe pressures on staff and departments, which are struggling to cope. The pressures on Emergency Departments are paralleled in the Ambulance service data which show that May 2021 saw the highest number of contacts ever recorded. We are in real trouble; the College has warned for months about the urgent need for a safe management of the exit from the Pandemic. We desperately need action and leadership. If pressures continue to rise, patient safety will likely be put at serious risk. We are seeing an increase in very sick patients, patients who require Ambulances. But when Emergency Departments are facing severe demand, Ambulances can be delayed, unable to offload patients into ED and then unable to return to the community and respond to urgent and emergency calls. This is a grave threat to the health of patients, especially those that are vulnerable and in a critical condition. Emergency Departments have seen a significant rise in the number of 12 hour delays, with nearly 700 patients staying in an ED for 12 hours or more. Long stays increase crowding in our departments and forces Clinicians to administer care in corridors. These are dangerous practices and must not be allowed to happen; especially with Covid still present in the community, but when there is no capacity for vulnerable patients no other choice remains. It is not sustainable. Continued intense pressures on existing staff within an understaffed workforce could lead to a mass exodus of either junior staff and/or senior Clinicians. A workforce survey of our members is currently underway, and the responses we have seen so far show, unsurprisingly, a workforce with low morale and under severe strain. We have repeatedly called for a safe expansion of capacity; the only viable short term option that would likely ease the severest of pressures and help to reduce the dangerously high bed occupancy figures that many Trusts are currently managing. Expanding capacity requires a joined up approach. Working closely with social care to protect the most vulnerable patients and to ensure they are treated swiftly and effectively, and handling transportation to and from Hospital. Inter departmental and cross specialty communication can help flow through the Hospital and help prevent exit block. While same day emergency care (SDEC) is a vital service that can be expanded so lower acuity patients can be treated effectively without being admitted. Patient safety is always the top priority for all health care workers. But the increase of crowding in Emergency Departments; the potential derailing of urgent elective care (for the now 5.1 million patients waiting for treatment); and the strains across the entire health system; are putting patient safety at risk. We need urgent action now to manage these pressures."

For more information about the NHS Data Model and Dictionary that describes Ambulance incident as a care contact, please visit:-
DataDictionary.NHS.UK.