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Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service

Greener NHS Provides a road map for a future Net Zero.

Roadmap

In 2022 Greener NHS published a guide to delivering a ‘Net Zero’ NHS. This document sets out the carbon footprint of the NHS; outlines direct interventions to decarbonise across five broad headings (estates, transport, supply chain, medicine and research) and outlines approaches required to deliver any reduction including sustainable models of care.


Targets

The target for the emissions controlled directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), is to be net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032.


Anaesthetic Gases

Anaesthetic gases comprise ~2% of the NHS carbon footprint. The target is to lower this by 40% through transforming anaesthetic practice including: switching to low carbon agents e.g. sevoflurane; employing capture / reuse technology and reducing atmospheric release from leftover nitrous gas canisters.


Nitrous Oxide

In addition, the capture and destruction of nitrous oxide could cut over one-third of NHS anaesthetic emissions. This technology has been readily deployed in Sweden for some 16 years and could save an estimated 90 ktCO2e emissions if implemented across 132 high impact trusts in the NHS. Scaled across the entire health service, this could deliver up to a 75% reduction in nitrous emissions.


Finally, significant carbon savings are available by decreasing nitrous oxide wastage, with the College of Paramedics estimating that 30% of nitrous oxide is left in canisters after use.  


Greener NHS » Delivering a net zero NHS (england.nhs.uk)


9 November 2024
The first production unit was introduced into a delivery suite at UHW, Cardiff mid-August and has been in regular use thereafter. Feedback from midwives was collected both informally and via questionnaire. Key takeaways:  Very positive and supportive of the project in terms of environmental benefit. Staff understand that Entonox is a greenhouse gas and that this machine reduces emissions. Many staff feel it will improve their health and wellbeing by reducing their own exposure to nitrous oxide. The machine was simple and easy to use It was quiet Although large, it was able to fit into the room ok It could be used with a mouthpiece or face mask depending on patient choice It did emit some heat, which although noticeable, didn't make the room uncomfortably hot
9 November 2024
The ability of the N2O Clear product to eliminate nitrous oxide from an inlet stream was evaluated over 2 days at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, north Wales. Using cylinder gas, test flows simulating 1~5 LPM of nitrous oxide and Entonox were introduced into the N2O Clear unit and the exhaust concentration of nitrous oxide was measured using a G200 N2O analyser from QED Environmental Systems. % reduction in nitrous oxide between inlet and exhaust air was then calculated and determined to exceed the target 99% on all occasions.
8 November 2024
Implementing nitrous oxide cracking technology in the labour ward to reduce occupational exposure and environmental emissions: a quality improvement study.
by David Mclaughlin 8 November 2024
K.A. Henderson, I.P. Matthews, A. Adisesh, A.D. Hutchings. Occup Environ Med 20023; 60; 958-961
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