Trust switches to reusable theatre caps
Date of release: 20 October 2023
Wolverhampton teams are the first in the Black Country to make the switch from disposable to reusable Theatre hats – a change that will reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment during key surgical procedures.
Theatre teams at New Cross Hospital were getting through an average of 43,000 disposable hats per year, equating to around 3,919kgs of carbon (CO2) emissions during their lifecycle (associated with manufacturing, transporting, maintaining and disposing of the hats).
This figure, coupled with £244.56 in yearly incinerator disposal costs, prompted the Greening Surgical Services Team, led by Dr Meenu Netke, Clinical Sustainability Lead for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) to look at the feasibility of switching
to reusable hats.
After consulting with surgical staff, and exploring the practicalities, the switch to reusable cloth hats was agreed. More than 400 staff members were provided with three hats, all inscribed with their name and job title in the agreed colour of their staff group.
The hats were purchased from a local supplier to reduce the length of travel needed on delivery, which in turn will have reduced transport-related CO2 emissions that was otherwise spent on products from overseas. At the end of three years (the lifespan of one hat) they will be cleaned and repurposed as rags for the Trust’s Estates and Facilities staff.
RWT anticipates the following savings as a result of the switch:- Average saving of £166 reduction in monthly purchase costs
- Average saving of £244.56 in annual disposal cost savings (incineration)
- Based on the volume of single used hats not incinerated within the next three years, 352.45kg CO2 disposal carbon emissions saved
- For the lifetime of the reusable hats (three years) 10,715.43kg CO2 embodied carbon savings
- Minimal impact on annual cost of laundering in both energy and water at £1.32 and £0.52 respectively
Alongside the eco-friendly benefits, the team has noticed improved communication between staff members while helping to identify specific individuals – particularly in cross-team situations and fast-paced emergency scenarios such as resuscitation.
Dr Netke said: “The new hats create a strong sense of identity for those wearing them and have already contributed to improved teamworking within the department, plus the reusable caps provide added comfort and wearability during the working day.
“We also hope by including our names on hats this will help to reduce anxiety in nervous patients as knowing the name of the person looking after them should support with building stronger relationships, while also helping them have a better understanding of who is looking after them.”
There are plans to roll out the scheme further across the wider Trust.
Read more about the Trust's sustainability efforts this #Recycle Week on our Publications and Documents page.
