Five surgical teams from across the UK are competing in the first ever ‘Green Surgery Challenge’ to show how they have successfully reduced the carbon footprint of operations.

The NHS accounts for four per cent of the UK’s carbon footprint, and operating theatres have particularly high energy use. The Green Surgery Challenge is aimed at helping the NHS meet its commitment to achieve net zero by 2040.

By inventing new devices, switching to re-usable equipment and changing the type of anaesthetic they use, a total carbon footprint of 133.4 tonnes CO2e/year has been saved through the five projects – the equivalent of 38 return flights from London to Hong Kong.

The five teams are: Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust; University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty GwyneddHospitals, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales; and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Tim Goodacre, Vice President, Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “It’s been exciting helping to judge these excellent examples of surgical teams taking on the challenge of climate change.  As world leaders come together at the COP26 summit, the pressure is on each and every one of us to look at how we can reduce our carbon footprint, both at home and at work.  The teams have been inventive and focused in their approaches to reducing the carbon footprint of operations.  We are facing a climate emergency, and every sector needs to respond. The NHS is committed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, so we need to help spread these good ideas and continually look to improve further, if we are going to play our part.”