HOSPITAL bosses have been told to clean up their act after it emerged that they are failing to take their environmental responsibilities seriously.

The East Lancashire NHS Trust (ELHT) is among more than 60 per cent of NHS trusts across the country failing to met carbon emissions targets set out by the government, a Newsquest Data Unit investigation has revealed.

The findings also revealed that a third of trusts are still without vital environmental plans in place.

And while Government officials have condoned the figures, hospital bosses have said they are working hard to ensure positive changes are made.

James Maguire, divisional director for estates and facilities at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) said: “The NHS worked hard to achieve its interim carbon emissions target of 10 per cent reduction by 2015.

“Meeting that target was an excellent achievement and demonstrated that both ELHT and the wider NHS take this challenge seriously. Today, the use of gas, electricity and water is closely monitored and our carbon emission reductions keep pace with the targets set by the government for the NHS.

“All NHS trusts must balance environmental requirements against the increasing demand for more services and higher standards, for example, seven day services. The challenges are significant but we are well aware that staff and the public expect us to continue reducing our carbon footprint.”

Mr Maguire went on to say that the ELHT was currently implementing methods to ensure its carbon emissions are kept to a minimum, including the use of electric cars, bio-degradable utensils and the segregation of waste.

Branding the figures as ‘shocking’, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “The Labour Party has already called for a Clean Air Act but it’s time the NHS took its responsibilities to climate change seriously.”

Co-leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, said more funding was needed to help the NHS tackle the climate crisis.

He said: “We have to keep in mind the intense financial pressure the NHS is suffering, with health funding far behind that of comparable countries. The NHS needs to be properly funded to meet the agreed policies to tackle the climate crisis, which means having healthy transport, sustainable development and carbon reduction plans.”