Positively Green

Natalie, one of UHP’s Consultant Anaesthetists and Sustainability Lead for Theatres, has long held a passion for sustainability and it is thanks to individuals like her that positive change happens in our hospital. She has been working alongside the Sustainability team, Irene and JP from the Plastic Theatres team and others to reduce the impact that theatres 14 and 15 have on the environment. Focusing on this self-contained section of the hospital has allowed the staff to change processes and trial ideas. As a result of this, the team has achieved the following things:

• Installation of ‘ventilation setback’ controls which will reduce energy use from inefficient processes, including predictive maintenance and additional monitoring of ventilation pressure regimes for patient safety.

• Rationalised the bins in the department to improve waste segregation, with the purple wrap that sterile instruments arrive in now being donated to Plymouth Scrap Store for craft projects, and soft plastics now sent for recycling onsite.

• Turned off the valves for the rarely used and highly potent greenhouse gas Nitrous Oxide. Canisters are still available should they be required.

• Amended patient invite to surgery letters to ask them to bring a reusable water bottle and a case for dentures/glasses.

• Swapped non-recyclable plastic bags for patient belongings to reusable shopping baskets.

• Signed team members up for Carbon Literacy training, which raises awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organisational basis.

• Reduced paper use by cutting down forms and taking unnecessary pages out of booklets used in theatre

They continue to work on other projects, including swapping the bear hugger disposable warming blankets to a blanket warmer machine to save on waste and investigating reusable gowns. Go team!

Once satisfied that these changes have been successful, these initiatives will be introduced to more theatres at Derriford Hospital over the coming months.

For more information, please email plh-tr.sustainability@nhs.net