Barts Health NHS Trust in London says it is saving 90 tonnes of incinerated waste and 374,000 kg of CO2 equivalent annually through new ‘sustainable’ surgical gowns that have been introduced across its hospital theatres.
The Trust says the new gowns – the photo shows clinicians at Whipps Cross Hospital wearing them – provide benefits including:
- superior strength and water resistance.
- a reduction in single-use plastic and disposal in theatres.
- lower costs.
Natasha Kennedy, anaesthetic consultant and Sustainability clinical lead at Whipps Cross Hospital, who led on the project, explained that ‘this area alone produces 50-70% of our total waste at our hospital’.
She said: “The move to better, disposable equipment has been prominent in recent years because of this, and the roll-out of new sustainable workwear in surgery has shown multiple advantages. The new reusable gowns not only perform better in testing, but their use across our hospitals will lead to a financial saving, and support our sustainability goals.”
Ann Hepworth, the Trust’s Group director of Strategy and Partnerships, added: “This project is a great example of sustainability innovation that shows brilliant collaboration between our teams to deliver projects that have Trust-wide benefits. By integrating sustainable practices into the way we deliver healthcare, we are taking a crucial step towards a healthier environment for our patients and communities.”
