A surgical team at Solihull Hospital has performed the world’s first documented net-zero operative procedure.
The keyhole surgery was to remove a bowel cancer and the operation introduced several sustainable changes to the team’s normal practice. This included using reusable PPE and giving medications through the veins for general anaesthesia rather than anaesthetic gases, which have a strong greenhouse effect.
The theatre team travelled to the hospital by either walking, running, or cycling.
At the end of the operation, the team used the calculator to estimate the reduction in carbon output for the operation compared to the usual output. They calculated that the carbon output was reduced by almost 80 per cent, with the remaining output then offset this through a variety of projects, including the planting of trees in the grounds of Solihull Hospital.
This brought the total carbon output for the operation to net-zero.
Watch the Video
Operating Theatres Contribute 25% of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s Carbon Footprint
The net-zero operation involved all members of the team including the surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, cleaners, porters, and managers.
HB Consultant Surgeon and Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham Mr Aneel Bhangu said: “Operating theatres are resource-intensive environments, contributing to 25 per cent of the trust’s carbon output. We cannot achieve net-zero health systems without making surgery more green, so this is a vital proof of concept step.
“Ensuring healthcare is environmentally friendly is important to patients and communities. These measures require changes in behaviour and care pathways across complex teams. We now hope to work with colleagues across the UK to create a wider impact across the NHS and provide best practice that will help healthcare professionals around the world.”
Carbon source
Carbon output of a typical operation (kg CO2)
Reduction in Net-Zero surgery (%)
Anaesthetic and surgical gases
1,270.1
99.9%
Electricity use
521.7
47%
Waste production
149.9
6%
Gown and drapes
6.0
70%
Total
1,947.7
79%
Table: the above table shows both the carbon output in kg of different elements of a typical operation, and the reduction made by percentage in the net-zero operation
Picture: a photograph of three people wearing surgical scrubs. Image Credit: Pexels
Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 25 May 2022
MedTech Company Looks to Solve NHS' Clinical Waste and Plastic Problem
A British MedTech company is helping the NHS to reduce CO2 emissions in its clinical waste disposal by 95 per cent.
It is hoped that this will save tens of millions of...
Kier Wins Contract to Upgrade Birmingham Hospitals
Kier has been appointed by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust for a three-year programme of upgrades across the estate.
The University Hospitals Birmingham...
Novus Awarded North West and Midlands Healthcare Contracts
Novus Property Solutions has been awarded three hospital-based contracts in Preston, Birmingham and Liverpool.
Novus recently completed an external works contract with...
Health Agency Urges Adults to Wear Face Masks When Ill
Guidance issued by the UK Health Security Agency states that adults suffering from respiratory illnesses should wear face masks if they have to leave home.
Amidst high...
Government Announces £553m of Investment to Upgrade Public Buildings
Hundreds of public buildings in England will cut their use of fossil fuels and advance towards low carbon heating and energy efficiency upgrades, thanks to £553...
100 senior executives of UK construction firms were interviewed on sustainable design and engineering.
The construction firms involved have collectively been involved...
Facilities managers are on the front line of managing a behavioural transition to affect green change, according to Dr Stephen Wise.
When COP president Alok Sharma...
IT Experts say COP26 Must Prioritise Global Electronic Waste
Ending the cycle of pushing new technology products should be a top target for the COP26 climate change conference, according to The Chartered Institute for...
The University of Birmingham Partners with Siemens to Create the Smartest University Campus in the World
Siemens is partnering with the University of Birmingham to create the world's smartest university campus.
The University of Birmingham, in partnership with...
FM Qualifications at the College of Central London
Qualifications are essential to gaining recognition and respect. Our mission is to provide skills and knowledge to help you achieve success in IWFM level 5 and 6. Click Image To Read More
SEE Services Celebrate Planet Mark Certification
SEE Services has successfully achieved Planet Mark certification, an internationally recognised symbol of sustainability progress for firms that are committed to measuring and reducing carbon emissions. Click Image To Read More
Installers Across UK Speak On The Direction Of Current & Future Commercial & Domestic Energy
Chris Goggin expands his recent discussions that focused on the concerns of heating engineers and system designers regarding the malleable condition of UK energy policy. He has listened to 10 installing contractors, from all parts of the UK for their views, from a pragmatic level on how they see the market and developments. Click Image To Read More
Greener Solutions For Critical Backup Power Supplies
Backup power is essential for businesses and organisations that need to keep their critical operations running during a power outage. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in greener solutions for backup power from our customers at Dale Power Solutions. Click Image To Read More
Dimeta and Rinnai Team Up On Greener Gas Appliances
The partnership will explore the use of renewable & recycled carbon DME in appliances to decarbonise the LPG market. Click Image To Read More
Energy Transition Update
Notable international economies are investing huge amounts of capital in large construction projects that aim to facilitate decarbonising green energy dispersal. Click Image To Read More
Rinnai White Paper: The Importance of Seasonal Performance Factors In Heat Pump Design
Rinnai is issuing a ‘White Paper’ report that details the potential limitations of manufacturer-issued efficiency measures for Heat pumps, namely COP (Coefficient of performance) and SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance). Click Image To Read More
SEE Services Is Accelerating The Journey To Net-Zero
As of the end of August 2023 there were over 48,000* charging points in the UK, a significant improvement on 2022, but still far short of the number needed to support the electric revolution. Click Image To Read More
Energy Transition Update
International energy usage is shifting towards sustainable and secure renewable fuels that reduce carbon emissions. Fossil fuels will gradually be phased out in favour of carbon neutral alternatives. Click Image To Read More
ThisWeekinFM – Headline Media Partner
Visit our dedicated EMEX Playlist For All Our Energy Management Focus Interviews. Click Image To Read More