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West Midlands - Going Green with the patient moving and handling team
Authors: Janet Smith - MSP® Registered Practitioner (Head of Sustainability) Trust: RWT
In September 2018 following an NHS clinical review of slide sheets, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Patient Moving and Handling team began a piece of work to look at the use of this equipment within the Trust. The usage at that time identified that we were using over 19 different types of slide sheets. The Patient Moving and Handling Team commenced a review of the equipment and evaluating the findings by undertaking a Quality Improvement project for the organisation.
The aim was to introduce a new slide sheet into clinical areas which could be used throughout the whole patient stay within the Trust and on discharge, with the use of CQI methodologies to improve patient and staff safety.
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Initially the pilot focused on providing continuity of practice and equipment across the Trust as a whole. However, the potential to reduce the carbon footprint and support the sustainability ethos of the Trust became a key driver whilst retaining the objectives of the project.
In partnership with GBUK Banana, a company who is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of their products and operations, the project was piloted in various areas of the Trust, including Cannock Chase, West Park and New Cross Hospitals with feedback collected from both staff and patients.
Having stalled on several occasions due to staff changes and the pandemic, what started three years ago has now become a reality.
Working closely with the new clinical procurement lead, Sian Fumarola, a passionate sustainable procurement champion, we are pleased to announce the new slide sheets have been introduced as standard across the Trust from the 1st of April 2022. This move will realise a £1,500 recurrent financial savings and contribute a reduction of approximately 1.8 tonnes of CO2e to the Trust carbon footprint.
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