N3 wins e-Government award for sustainability efforts
N3 won the e-Government excellence: For sustainable, 'green IT' or 'carbon-efficient services award at the sixth annual e-Government National Awards 2009 on Wednesday 20 January. The awards are the UK's highest level of commendation for the best e-Government and technology-driven services.
N3 were one of 11 winners who were recognised as the UK's top public sector innovators in the use of technology, enabling businesses and citizens to better communicate with councils, central government, NHS and other public sector organisations.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, addressing the ceremony via video link, said: "Looking at the standard of this year's entries, it's not difficult to see why the UK is one of the world leaders in the delivery of e-Government and the digital economy."
Award of Distinction
Len Chard, N3 Programme Manager, NHS Connecting for Health, said: "Winning the e-Government for Sustainability is an incredible accolade. This recognition marks 12 months of hard work for NHS Connecting For Health and N3SP on the N3 Sustainability Project. The project has enabled considerable sustainability benefits for the NHS including rationalising the core N3 network. "
The NHS is the largest public sector climate change contributor with about one fifth of the emission being transport related. The award recognises the contribution of the N3 Sustainability toolkit which includes remote access working. The N3 Remote Worker token lets users access all the data they would normally access at their desks, by simply logging on at any Internet-connected location.
During the big freeze in January, N3 Remote Worker users benefitted from the flexibility of the service with the number of users rising to over 2,000 (peaking on Wednesday 6th January). Under normal circumstances there would be some 800 concurrent remote users during business hours. These services reduce an individual's carbon footprint and add to staff safety by allowing them to work without venturing out in the treacherous weather.
John Abbott CEO, N3 Service Provider said, "I am delighted and extremely proud of this achievement. To receive industry recognition acknowledges the hard work of our team as a whole and shows how N3 is not only benefitting the NHS and patients but is contributing to the carbon emissions agenda. The N3 Sustainability case study is supported by the NHS Sustainability Development Unit who are currently using the video case study as part of a series of training sessions on climate change and sustainability. The sessions are designed for Public Health Registrars who are training to be Public Health. The longer term view is to adapt the session and extend it to the wider NHS and health professional workforce."
Our efforts do not stop here N3 will continue to support the NHS and help meet its goal of a 10 per cent reduction in NHS carbon emissions by 2015. Once fully launched, the new N3 Video Conferencing catalogue service is anticipated to save the NHS per year:
- £57.6M annual travel savings
- 2.3 M working hours saved
- £46M Staff salary savings
- 28M Km travel savings
- 9,000 CO2 tonnes savings
