Award-winning green project saves nearly £90,000
Medical staff at an Essex hospital who spotted an opportunity to improve a routine process in operating theatres have been recognised for reducing waste and encouraging sustainability.
Over its first 30 months, the initiative has reduced waste by 407kg, avoided more than one tonne of carbon emissions, saved Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust £86,948 and released 409 hours of clinician time.
The idea came from Dr Dominic Atraszkiewicz and Dr Niven Akotia, who are both consultant anaesthetists at Broomfield Hospital.
The team introduced commercially prepared pre-filled syringes for two types of medication routinely used across all 18 operating theatres at the hospital.
These pre-filled syringes, unlike manually prepared syringes, remain sealed if unused. Previously, the medications would be discarded and prepared again for each new patient. This has saved time and money for the hospital while also reducing workloads for staff.
The project's success has also led to international acclaim, with it winning Gold at the Green Apple Commonwealth Awards, bronze for waste reduction and minimisation at the Global Good Awards and finalist places in the Green Awards UK, National Sustainability Awards and the Awards for Excellence in Waste Management for the NHS.
Dr Atraszkiewicz said:
"We're incredibly proud of the recognition the project has received, but the biggest achievement is the difference it has made for patients, staff and the environment.
"What started as a simple idea between two doctors has shown that small changes in everyday clinical practice can have a significant impact. We now have strong evidence that this approach works and we hope it will encourage other hospitals to consider similar changes."
The team now hopes to expand the use of pre-filled syringes across the Trust, which is one of the largest in the country.
They want to encourage the development of more pre-filled emergency medicines that could help other NHS organisations reduce waste, save money and improve efficiency.
ENDS
Image: Dr Dom Atraszkiewicz holding the bronze plaque at the Global Good Awards.