Sponsored by
News GIRFT programme could help the
NHS to reduce carbon emissions admissions. This can also apply to other suitable procedures. In addition, identifying and reducing procedures with limited benefit to patients (eg; knee arthroscopy before total knee replacement) can not only increase efficiency and reduce costs, but also reduce carbon emissions. Delivering a patient-centred service: Changes in service organisation following the COVID-19 pandemic offer an opportunity to modify operating theatre practices in line with best sustainable practice, and to consider surgical pathways as a whole. For example, face-to-face outpatient appointments are being now minimised through one-stop-shop care models and virtual appointments. GIRFT’s work on pathways across many specialties means the programme can advocate for sustainability improvements at scale. Anaesthesia and peri-operative medicine
A review has been published outlining how the GIRFT programme is well-placed to support the NHS in reducing carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2045. The new paper states that embedding sustainability and carbon reduction into GIRFT processes has the potential to link up clinical improvement work with the NHS’s efforts to reach Net Zero carbon emissions. Healthcare is a major contributor to global carbon emissions; in the UK, it is responsible for 4.6% of all carbon emissions. In 2020, NHS England committed to reduce direct carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2040 and indirect carbon emissions by 2045. The research team identified several areas of GIRFT’s focus where there is the potential to contribute to a reduction in NHS carbon emissions: Elective surgical hubs: The lower complexity
of procedures commonly conducted in elective surgical hubs, and the standardisation of patient pathways, make hubs ideal for trialling low carbon models of care and implementing sustainable methods. Any improvements in the sustainability profile of an operation may be rapidly scalable across the national network of hubs. Day case surgery: Improving rates of day case
surgery can make a significant impact on the carbon footprint. For example, recent modelling by GIRFT and Greener NHS found that increases in the rates of day surgery for transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) surgery has saved 20.9 million kgCO2e over 9 years (2013/2014 to 2021/2022), due to fewer inpatient hospital
(APOM): Studies have attributed 42% of the carbon footprint of surgical care to anaesthetic gases. The GIRFT national report for APOM (2021) highlighted a number of areas where the carbon footprint for the specialty might be reduced, including: l Reducing and recycling waste and clinician education on waste management.
l Use of low-flow inhalational anaesthesia wherever possible.
l Use of total intravenous anaesthesia. l Increased use of regional anaesthesia techniques.
l Increased use of augmented volatile anaesthetic gas capture.
In addition, reducing operating theatre downtime can help to increase throughput and reduce the per-patient carbon emissions associated with running an operating theatre, such as lighting, heating, extraction systems and staff travel. In the longer term, once waiting lists have been reduced, operating theatre facilities and services could be turned off earlier in the day. Assessing what a minimal surgery and anaesthetic procedure kit should contain for each procedure to eliminate unnecessary equipment would also help to avoid disposal or re-sterilisation of unused items. Unwarranted variation and the goal of Net Zero for the NHS in England: exploring the link between efficiency working, patient outcomes and carbon footprint is the result of research by a group of 10 GIRFT clinicians. It is available to read in the March edition of Anaesthesia, the journal of the Association of Anaesthetists.
LATERAL BRACE
Product launch of new style Lateral Brace manufactured by our company in the UK. This product comes as a 3 piece with individual pieces available to purchase.
Benefits: l Manufactured from stainless steel with no plastic parts l Removeable / replacements pads fit easily removing the necessity for re-upholstering services
l All parts can be purchased separately l Refurbishment service available upon request
0161 480 5779 l
www.teasdale-healthcare.com l
sales@teasdaleltd.co.uk Unit 8 Crosland Ind Estate, Stockport Road West, Bredbury, Stockport, SK6 2BR
April 2024 I
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 11
This system is available for trials, please contact our sales team on 0161 480 5779 for further information.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
