University College London Hospitals (UCLH) are making the change from single use to named reusable fabric theatre hats for staff working in operating theatres.

Theatre team members at University College Hospital, The Grafton Way Building, Westmoreland Street, and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery will be given their own personal supply of hats, plus a net bag to wash them in at home.

The move is also expected to reduce costs by up to £32,000 per year.

Each hat will display the name and job title of the team member, making identification easier within theatre.  

Dr Laura Elgie, a consultant anaesthetist, said there is evidence that communication in theatre improves when these details are visible.

“Plus, the move to personalised hats will also make it easier for patients to identify who they are talking to, which supports a better patient experience overall,” she said.   

The switchover has been funded by UCLH Charity and has been approved by the UCLH Infection Prevention and Control Team.  

Reducing the purchase of single use items, including single use PPE, is a focus of UCLH’s 'Net Zero Strategy Critical Care For Our Climate.'

UCLH said the move to reusable hats will help to reduce the carbon footprint historically associated with the purchase and disposal of single use theatre caps, estimated at over 9,000 kg of carbon a year.

Sustainability transformation project lead, Joe Burton said: “UCLH has been appointed the lead provider for reusable PPE by the North Central London Integrated Care Board and this project exemplifies how we are leading the way in this area.”