Humidification, Ventilation and Air Conditioning of theatres is a major source of energy consumption in hospitals and turning it ‘down’ (not off) is called ‘setback’. Turning on setbacks after-hours can save more than $10,000/year/ theatre in electricity spend without affecting theatre safety. Indian Authorities allow air changes to reduce to 25% (from 20 ACH) and…
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A model for facility nitrous leak reduction
UK and Ireland Anaesthesia bodies have recommended nitrous pipelines be decommissioned and cylinders used in lieu. AusHFG guidelines no longer recommend reticulated nitrous oxide for all new facilities. So how to go about decommissioning your likely leaky nitrous pipes? A proposed phased approach outlined below. Phase 1 – Cut off dead wood Disconnect and decommission…
How many people die from healthcare’s emissions?
Healthcare has long known that medical error causes death and harm. It’s been quantified and high performing organisations measure and investigate every death to minimise medical error as much as possible. But how many people die due to our carbon emissions? It’s hard to know for sure but modelling allows us to get an idea….
View Recordings for GTN WA meetings
2024 The July 2024 GTN WA Meeting Recordings are now available to view on youtube. 2023 You can watch the GTN WA August 2023 meeting recordings now on youtube. They are available on this playlist as individually recorded videos Sustainability and Medical Devices – Casper Venbjerg Hansen, Senior Director, Sustainability and Risk and Compliance Sustainable…
Pearls from CAHA Forum 2023 Sustainability in Practice session
Cleaning an Eye Clinic – Alex Buller (Hawkes Bay NZ) Things to make your Urology service more sustainable – Ashley Lee (Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA) Doctors for Environment Australia: Planetary health education in healthcare – Sonia Chanchlani Schneider Electric’s approach to decarbonisation (apologies if not completely represented) Life Cycle Assessment resource https://www.openlca.org/
GTN Statewide Meeting July 31st 2024
You are invited to our next GTN WA meeting to network and share ideas on improving the sustainability of operating theatres and hospitals across WA. We are hoping to gather Anaesthetists, surgeons, nurses, technicians, procurement staff and any one else involved in driving theatre sustainability. The theme of this meeting is“Green Theatres need Green Procurement”…
Ditching Desflurane
In some respects it seems like this battle has been won. For no clinical penalty with a financial benefit, we’ve made significant reductions in carbon emissions by switching anaesthetic agents. Desflurane is being removed from the NHS, most Western Australian public hospitals have already removed dirtydes from their hospitals and many have followed suit on…
Recycling Streams in Theatre
Operating theatres produce 20-33% of total hospital waste, including up to 60% of the hospitals’ regulated medical waste. Ensuring we reduce, reuse and recycle where possible can have a substantial impact on costs ($ and eCO2) and waste. An example of streams that are easy to recycle in a tertiary hospital is available on the…
Greening Surgical Care
A recent article in the Journal of Climate Change and Health by Asfaw et al from the Cleavland Clinic has given us some ideas which we’ve synthesised into the below table for easy digestion! What ideas do you have to add? Tell us on twitter SUMMARY POINT PRIMARY DRIVER CHANGE IDEAS HVAC ‘setback’ Reduce energy…
Where does the Green Theatre Network Fit in?
GTN aims to provide a network for Green Theatre Groups at each hospital to collaborate. The GTN can then provide a statewide advocacy to a variety of bodies including state health departments, professional bodies and other related organisations. The Green Theatre Groups at each hospital provide an opportunity for multidisciplinary staff and hospital leaders to…