Case Study

County Hospital

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A Simple Switch That Significantly Reduced Costs and CO2e

Working with Gabor from Sharpsmart has been incredibly helpful for our department. His guidance on changing our waste stream from orange infectious waste bags to tiger offensive waste bags has made a big difference in improving our processes and sustainability.

Additionally, switching to green metal recycling containers has been a positive change. These reusable containers have ensured the correct segregation of metal waste and support the Trust’s environmental goals. Overall, these improvements have made our department more efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with sustainability targets.

Helen Glover, Dental Nurse and SWITCH Champion – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Orthodontic Department, County Hospital

The Challenge

County Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, is a 180-bed hospital offering a range of acute services, including an Outpatients Clinic, Endoscopy Department, and Accident & Emergency department.

Initially called in for a meeting with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department to discuss the recent changes to disposal procedures for waste teeth and the possible implementation of metal recycling solutions, we noticed an abundance of orange bags being used throughout the clinic and the Outpatients area, despite a lack of infectious patients.

Further ward walks around County Hospital led us to discover that the scope cleaning room in the Endoscopy department was disposing of the cleaning brushes (which are similar to guidewires) in yellow-lid sharps containers. Whilst this is compliant, it increases both disposal costs and CO2e.

Our Approach

Step 1

The first step involved two Sharpsmart waste experts visiting the County Hospital site to conduct waste audits and attend a check-in meeting to run through some questions that the staff had regarding compliant waste disposal.

Whilst visiting, the Sharpsmart team observed the clinical environment to identify any improvements that could be made to achieve financial savings and reduce carbon emissions.

Step 2

An audit of the Endoscopy department, along with a discussion with staff, including the Ward Manager, revealed opportunities to reduce costs, minimise the carbon footprint, and unlock resource recovery solutions.

During the audit, no significant compliance issues with segregation were identified; instead, several opportunities for improvement were found that could help the Trust progress toward its sustainability goals and reduce costs.

Step 3

We conducted a more in-depth analysis off the back of the auditing process to determine precisely which solutions could be implemented to have the greatest impact, as well as set mutually agreed KPIs.

The Solution

What began with a simple question about compliant tooth disposal led to the implementation of a variety of new solutions that will cut costs and CO2e emissions while maintaining compliance with HTM 07-01.

Offensive waste rollout: Within a week, all Outpatient areas were switched over from orange bags for infectious waste to tiger bags for offensive waste, without any disruption to staff or patients. The same was done across the Endoscopy department, which was also using orange bags due to their Vacsax tubs containing free-flowing bodily liquids. They are now using equipment with built-in gelling agents to enable disposal in the offensive waste stream.
Metal recycling containers introduced: Sharpsmart has provided MR14 Metal Recycling containers to the Maxillofacial unit, and MR64 containers for the Endoscopy department to replace the current yellow-lid sharps containers being used.
Questions around tooth disposal answered: As per the HTM 07-01 guidance, teeth can be wrapped in bandage or gauze and disposed of in the offensive waste stream – except teeth containing amalgam, which must be disposed of in amalgam pots.

The Outcome

The changes made throughout County Hospital will support their contribution to the Trust’s overarching sustainability goals in pursuit of the 20-20-60 waste split target.

Staff at County Hospital were already doing a great job. Yet, they were still willing to engage with the Sharpsmart team to take action and improve wherever possible, aiming to achieve better outcomes.

As a result of these improvements, County Hospital will achieve significant cost and CO2e reductions in the coming months and years, and is looking to reflect their findings and achievements across to the Royal Stoke Outpatient areas to help them do the same.

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