Elective theatre end of day shut down

Project completed as part of the Swansea Bay University Health Board Green Team competition (October - December 2022).

Setting/Patient Group: Operating theatres

Issue to be addressed:

Large amount of energy intensive equipment in non-emergency theatres are often left running overnight and at weekend when not in use.

Intervention:

• Baseline audit of electric device use which would be appropriate to shut down routinely in elective theatres at the end of the working day.
• Education through clinical governance day to engage staff
• Development of theatres ‘shutdown’ list and poster

Outcome:

Social

• Increased staff job satisfaction

Environmental

• Projected saving 44,774 kg CO2e/ year

Economic

• Estimate saving of over £26,000 per year.

Key learning point

Adopting practices we would normally do at home within the workplace can have significant environmental and financial savings.

Green team competition: 

You can read more about the Swansea Bay University Health Board competition here.

Click here for more information on the Green Team Competition (including organisation impact reports).