Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust is taking giant steps to cut its carbon footprint by boosting its business mileage rate from the NHS Trust standard of 6.2 pence to 20 pence per mile.

Today, the Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) charity welcomed the move – and urged other trusts in the area to follow its lead.

Chief Executive of PECT Hugh Cripps said: "It is highly commendable when large scale employers such as this take such a positive lead. It is a win-win situation, because they are improving the health of their staff as well as reducing the impact on the environment.

"I would like to see all health employers positively ratcheting up their mileage rates."

The Lincolnshire trust – which provides mental health, learning disabilities and substance misuse services across the county, including Spalding and Stamford – has introduced the new rates to encourage more staff to ditch their cars and hop on their bikes, placing it among the most generous NHS trusts in the country.

Contractor payments manager at Lincolnshire NHS Shared Services Gerald Garton has cycled to work for more than 40 years.

He said: "I started cycling in 1966 because there were no public transport links and I couldn't afford a car, but I also enjoyed it as a method of keeping fit and healthy.

"In recent years, the green aspect has become more important to me and I try to use the car as little as possible for business journeys.

"It's a 23-mile round trip for me from home to work, in all seasons. There are great facilities provided here though, with a bike shed and showers on site. People should definitely consider cycling to work more often."

The incentive to car-share has also been strengthened, with an increase from 2p to 10p per mile for every passenger a driver transports on official business.

There's also a higher rate for those members of staff who drive a lease car, which is now at 13p per mile, and is at the maximum ceiling set by HM Revenue and Customs – although this is being reviewed.

In comparison, Peterborough and Stamford Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is lagging behind on 6.2p.

But general manager for facilities at the trust Gerry McIntyre said this was under review.

He said: "The trust has an award-winning Travel Options scheme, which was launched in 2005.

"Since the launch, more members of staff, patients and visitors are using alternative means of transport, and last year the trust won the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Workplace Travel Plan Excellence Award.

"By local agreement, staff cyclists could be eligible for up to 6.2p per mile for business travel between the hospital sites, but new incentives for cyclists are currently under review."

A trust-wide travel survey is also planned.

Meanwhile, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust pays 12p per mile.