The NHS has been told to take “climate change seriously” after it emerged nearly two-thirds of hospital trusts have missed anti-pollution targets.

While some trusts are recorded as not being on track to meet the Government’s aims for carbon reduction, others have not set a target, or have failed to implement either sustainable development or carbon reduction plans.

Despite having the targets since 2014, neither London North West Healthcare NHS Trust nor the London Ambulance Service have been on course to meet them.

Newsquest’s Data Unit found they were amongst a quarter of the 232 trusts included in the latest NHS records with the same outcome.

A spokesman for the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The trust is working in partnership with Brent Council, Westminster University and Network Homes to develop a mutually beneficial energy solution as part of the One Public Estate initiative.

“We’re confident this will help us meet our targets.”

Under the initiative, the Northwick Park area could benefit from several improvements to local infrastructure, the trust explained, such as new cycle routes, parking spaces and schemes to reduce traffic and car dependency.

Recent statistics put London on top as more than half of the region’s trusts are expected to meet their environmental goals.

Since 2014, NHS Digital has published data on how well trusts are performing across England.

Analysis revealed a third of England’s trusts still do not have either a sustainable development management plan or carbon reduction management plan in place.

Forty-six per cent also still need a healthy transport plan, including the London Ambulance Service.

The documents include ways to implement best practice in car park management and sustainable transport like park and ride, car share schemes and concessions for those using public transport.

“We have ambitious aims to reduce the environmental impact of our service while improving our patient care and helping improve the health of Londoners,” an ambulance spokesman said.

“This includes a robust fleet strategy where we’re modernising our fleet, replacing the oldest and least efficient vehicles and moving to progressively lower emission engines with new vehicles meeting London’s ultra-low emission standards.”

By 2025, all cars in its general-purpose fleet and vehicles less than 7.5 tonnes should be zero emission capable.

But by 2050, this should be the norm for all vehicles.

It is the ambulance’s fleet which causes most of its carbon footprint, the trust admitted.

A spokesman added: “We’re also introducing hybrid and electric vehicles. We’ve deployed 20 fully-electric cars and are looking at testing these for wider use, including responding to emergency calls.”

Under the Climate Change Act 2008, trusts were tasked to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, supported by reductions of 34 per cent by 2020, and 50 per cent by 2025.

Shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: “These figures are shocking. We know the NHS is responsible for around five per cent of all UK environment emissions.

“The Labour Party has already called for a Clean Air Act but it’s time the NHS took its responsibilities to climate change seriously.”