Sustainable approach a win for patients and environment
Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group Consultant Anaesthetist Dr James Anderson, Associate Nurse Unit Manager Kiara Azak, Graduate Finance Officer Gayle Andrade and Anaesthetic Technician Bozana Judd.
Taking an environmentally sustainable approach in Fiona Stanley Hospital operating theatres is not only leading to significant reduction in waste but also providing improved outcomes for patients and cost savings.
Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group Consultant Anaesthetist Dr James Anderson is leading a reusable monitoring project which aims to reduce the need for single use devices in theatres.
He said the simple act of switching from single use monitoring equipment such as blood pressure cuffs to reusable products has significantly reduced the amount of waste being generated.
"We have been exploring ways to reduce our environmental impact in theatres at Fiona Stanley Hospital for the past few years and this is the latest of our projects," he said.
"Essentially by reducing the use of single use devices we are significantly reducing our carbon footprint and saving thousands of dollars each month.
"We know that unnecessary waste has a public health harm through fossil fuel use, carbon emissions and plastic waste in the ecosystem. Fossil fuel combustion increases the risk of diverse conditions from premature labour to asthma to strokes.
"We have thousands of people coming through our operating theatres at Fiona Stanley Hospital each year, so changes to our processes can have a significant impact."
Dr Anderson said the project has been a huge team effort with support from across the hospital enabling the changes to be made.
Finance staff helped to create a dashboard to track the project while supply teams, nurses and anaesthetic technicians have helped with implementing the changes.
He said the switch to some reusable items has also resulted in better outcomes for patients as the devices were often more effective than the single use versions.
"Taking a sustainable approach reflects our commitment to 'first do no harm'," he said.
"Reducing our carbon footprint in theatres has benefits in the wider community as it results in a cleaner, healthier environment. To preserve public wellbeing, need to find ways to reduce our fossil fuel consumption across all parts of the economy, including healthcare."
The project is slowly gaining momentum and will be expanding to other areas, and then wider throughout the South Metropolitan Health Service.
