The Emergency Department at Wyong Hospital in New South Wales, Australia, took part in RCEM’s GreenED International pilot programme and was one of nine sites to achieve a Bronze award.
Dr Matthew Knox was the GreenED Site Lead and explains their award journey.
Why did you decide to sign up to RCEM’s GreenED programme?
As a way to celebrate the great work that was being done in our ED to decarbonise healthcare, and so collaborate with other sites with similar goals
How did your department (e.g. consultant body, NUM) and/or LHD support you to take part in GreenED?
Fronted the joining fee, and LHD supported the creation of paid administrative time to complete this important work, with a focus on launching the “Right Test, Right Time: Pathology” project to address low value pathology testing, which fits nicely within the GreenED framework
What are some of the key successes you would like to showcase that your department achieved through the GreenED international pilot?
We switched from nitrous to methoxyflurane for mild analgesia and sedation, switched to recycled paper, introduced reusable tourniquets, and reduced our kidney dish use.
Are there any other benefits of shopfloor environmental sustainability projects that you would like to highlight?
Great for staff morale – important for people to feel like their actions as healthcare workers are not destroying the environment for future generations.
What would you say to other Emergency Medicine clinicians who are thinking about signing up to GreenED?
It’s a great platform with good resources to get your department started on decarbonisation. If you are already doing this work, it is a way to get recognition and celebrate the successes of this important work. But remember, it can’t rely on volunteerism – if your health district is serious about honouring their commitment to becoming net zero, the people running these projects need protected time to run it properly. Besides, sustainable healthcare usually saves the district money!
Please feel free to add in anything else you would like to mention about the programme and the team’s success.
Thank you for all the support!