An initiative implemented at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has achieved remarkable savings and environmental benefits over its first 30 months. The project has successfully reduced waste by 407kg, avoided over one tonne of carbon emissions, and generated savings of £86,948 for the Trust. Additionally, it has freed up 409 hours of clinician time.
The idea originated from consultant anaesthetists Dr Dominic Atraszkiewicz and Dr Niven Akotia at Broomfield Hospital. They introduced commercially prepared, pre-filled syringes for two common medications used in the hospital's 18 operating theatres. Unlike manually prepared syringes, these remain sealed if unused, preventing the need to discard and re-prepare medication for each patient. This change has led to time and cost savings, while also reducing staff workloads.
The project's success has garnered international recognition, including a Gold award at the Green Apple Commonwealth Awards, a bronze award for waste reduction at the Global Good Awards, and finalist positions in the Green Awards UK, National Sustainability Awards, and the Awards for Excellence in Waste Management for the NHS.
“"We're incredibly proud of the recognition the project has received, but the biggest achievement is the difference it has made for patients, staff and the environment. What started as a simple idea between two doctors has shown that small changes in everyday clinical practice can have a significant impact. We now have strong evidence that this approach works and we hope it will encourage other hospitals to consider similar changes."
The team now aims to expand the use of pre-filled syringes across the Trust, which is one of the largest in the country. They are advocating for the development of more pre-filled emergency medicines to help other NHS organisations reduce waste, save money, and improve efficiency.
