Reducing nitrous oxide wastage and inefficiencies

SusQI project completed as part of The Christie Green Team Competition from September to December 2022.

Setting/Patient Group: Trust-wide

Issue to be addressed:

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) accounts for at least 80% of the total anaesthetic gas footprint, previous work has shown a large volume of N₂O is often wasted due to leakage and inefficient systems.

Intervention:

• Baseline information gathering
  • survey of anaesthetic practitioners to assess N₂O use currently.
  • details of N₂0 usage from Estates team, Pharmacy and Anaesthetic machines
• Recommendations based on baseline information to
  • decommission N₂0 manifest at the main site.
  • keep portable N₂0 cylinder for as hoc use.
• Reassess N₂O consumption after 12 months of implementing changes.

Outcome:

Clinical

• 64% of anaesthetists surveyed had not used N₂0 at The Christie and only 36% reported using N₂0 occasionally. No one used it weekly or daily.
• There are no expected impacts on patients.

Social

• Raised awareness amongst staff of need for greener anaesthetic practices.

Environmental

• Potential 54,236 kg/year

Economic

• Potential £1681.7 annual saving

Key learning point

This project highlights opportunities to significantly reduce waste within hospital pathways.

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