SUSTAINABILITY ARTICLES

The NHS plans to stop purchasing from suppliers who do not meet or exceed its commitment to Net Zero and yet the HealthTech industry continues to face barriers and challenges to bringing sustainable medical devices to market. So, what can the NHS do to encourage innovation in sustainable HealthTech and ultimately reduce its carbon footprint?

An important study, involving the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, in the UK, and two other hospitals in Europe, has shed new light on how operating theatres can increase staff safety, improve theatre efficiency and reduce clinical waste.

Anaesthetists are making progress in reducing their impact on the environment. Dr. Paul Southall, an Elected Council Member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Environmental Advisor to the College, provides an insight into how the specialty is striving to ensure the NHS meets its Net Zero ambitions.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS says we have a moral duty to reduce our carbon footprint. The Green Surgery Report by the Royal Colleges has set out the pathway for healthcare, but there are many ways in which we can ensure a circular economy. In this article, she discusses some of the ways this can be achieved.

A new strategy is being published to radically cut the number of single-use medical devices in the health service. The Design for Life programme aims to reduce waste and achieve an NHS-wide move to sustainable alternatives.

As the NHS faces considerable financial issues, Alison Arnold, provides an insight into where valuable money could be saved at hospital sites across the UK, by rethinking procurement strategies.

Tork manufacturer, Essity, is dedicated to providing sustainable hygiene products and services in all its markets. Sales Manager Liam Mynes explains how the company is going that extra mile to achieve sustainable outcomes in healthcare.

Jennifer Gregory argues that investment in single-use endoscopes could help tackle issues around meeting demand, in the wake of the backlog, as well as addressing concerns over infection transmission. She tackles potential concerns around sustainability and highlights some recycling pilot projects that are due to begin this year.

Kate Woodhead highlights the need for every health board to enable their teams – and, in particular, their operating theatre teams – to examine their practice so they can reduce their carbon footprint. She discusses the recommendations of The Green Surgery Report and considers some of the potential barriers.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS concludes her series of insights into sustainability in healthcare, focusing on plans to achieve ‘greener’ surgery in the future. She says that enthusiastic champions will be vital to driving improvement, going forward, and outlines some of the key strategies that could help contribute towards a Net Zero NHS.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses some of the strategies that could help operating theatre teams to reduce their impact on the environment and to maximise their contribution towards achieving the NHS’s Net Zero target.