The Vale of Leven Hospital has reduced its nitrous oxide footprint by 95 per cent after significant changes to the ventilation and gas supply systems in the hospital’s three operating theatres.
And the Vale is the first hospital in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to meet the initial Bundle A National Green Theatre objectives.
Changes to anaesthetic gas delivery and theatre ventilation systems mean that there is now a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy use in the operating theatres.
These changes are part of NHSGGC’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy which forms part of the board’s Annual Delivery Plan, in line with Scottish Government policy guidelines.
By making such changes, NHSGGC seeks to become a resilient health service which is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
At the Vale of Leven, the hospital’s pipeline of nitrous oxide and Entonox – known commonly as “gas and air” – has been successfully decommissioned.
These gases have an atmospheric lifespan of 126 years and a global warming potential 300 times that of CO2.
The bulk of nitrous contamination comes from pipeline waste. By decommissioning the pipeline and having portable cylinder systems available for the rare occasions when nitrous oxide is indicated for patient care, the Vale has reduced its nitrous footprint by up to 95 per cent.
As well as this, the anaesthetic scavenging and theatre ventilation systems have been adapted.
These systems account for nearly 90 per cent of theatre energy consumption and 40-50 per cent of the energy needs of inpatient healthcare.
Automated shut off of these systems out of hours and the introduction of start and end-of-day checklist practices has supported the changes within the Theatre environment, substantial environmental and financial benefits can be made.
Paul Hendry, Clinical Services Manager, Theatres and Critical Care, Clyde Sector, said: “All these measures are designed to help our services deliver on both patient-centred care and meeting the aims of the NHSGGC sustainability programme.
“Now that we have been able to implement these changes at the Vale, we will be able to roll out measures such as the checklists across the Clyde sector of NHSGGC.
“All this has been possible by the tireless and diligent work of the Vale Theatres and Estates teams and wider NHSGGC Clyde sector Sustainability Team.”
Melanie McColgan, Clyde Sector Director, added: “All of our teams know that by making changes to how we offer our services, and move forward with our thinking on how we provide healthcare in the 21st Century and all the challenges that presents, that they are helping to create a more sustainable version of healthcare.
“I am delighted that the changes instituted at the Vale will go on to inform wider practice not just in Clyde Sector but across NHSGGC and I’d like to thank staff for their efforts on this which will have tangible benefits for the environment and help improve how we provide patient care.”
The recent work at the Vale of Leven will feature in the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care’s Sustainability toolkit which will be used across Europe to improve sustainable practice in hospitals.