Properly inflated tires 'may save UK's NHS millions'

ERJ staff report (TP)

Yorkshire, UK – It is a chore routinely overlooked by motorists but tire industry experts have now worked out the real cost of badly inflated tires after being called in by a Yorkshire NHS trust, reported The Yorkshire Post.

They calculated the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which works across Barnsley, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale, could save almost £22,000 (€26,400) a year if the tires on its vehicles were pumped up more accurately.

If that figure is reflected across the NHS, the potential savings could run into millions of pounds.

Experts from Michelin tested 75 cars from the trust’s fleet of 2,000 and found only half were correctly inflated. Fifteen were running on at least one ‘dangerously’ or ‘very dangerously’ under-inflated tire.

That result is better than the national average, which shows only 28 percent of tires have the correct air pressure.

Trust fleet manager Leigh Hancock said they were offered the checks through Volkswagen Group Leasing, who supply their cars. “We are interested in all aspects of health and safety as well as helping the environment, and of course making savings is always important, so we were keen for them to visit. The staff were really positive and many more than expected turned up to get their tires checked on the day.”

Michelin spokesman Dave Crinson said he hoped the South West Yorkshire Trust would set an example across the NHS.

“We hear a lot in the news about how the NHS is trying to make savings. Correcting tire pressures is a simple task that can save a lot of money.

“Our figures show this Trust alone could potentially save almost £22,000 (€26,400) each year. Imagine how much the whole NHS could save.”

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Full story from The Yorkshire Post