The Anaesthetic team auditing bluey use

On 22 April 2021, people all over the world rallied for climate change action for Earth Day. The Anaesthetics team at RBWH got on board to encourage all staff to participate in environmentally sustainability activities in healthcare and to take part in the ‘Operation Clean Up’.

As part of ‘Operation Clean Up’, our anaesthetists audited their Bluey usage with a strong desire to dramatically reduce their use and identify sustainable alternatives.

Did you know we use more than 74,000 Blueys per year in the 22 operating theatres at RBWH? Currently Blueys are disposed of in general waste which ends up in landfill, which can take up to 100 years to degrade.

The team have now found and implemented a range of more sustainable solutions to Blueys to be used when clinically appropriate. Reducing our use of Blueys will help contribute to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

The Anaesthetic Department at RBWH has a long history of engagement in healthcare related environmental sustainability activities, including the reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

Led by Anaesthetics Director Associate Professor Kerstin Wyssusek, the team aimed to reduce the use of Desflurane, an anaesthetic GHG. The team successful reduced the use of this gas from 800 bottles per year in 2016 to 100 bottles in 2020. This achieved savings of $140,000 per year, but more importantly reduced the CO2 equivalent in kg emitted per year from 800,000 kg to 160,000kg

The team are looking forward to departments across RBWH joining them in their fight against climate change and the associated burden on our health and our planet.