The Trust says the new gowns – the photo shows clinicians at Whipps Cross Hospital wearing them – provide benefits including:
- superior strength and water resistance.
- a reduction in single-use plastic and disposal in theatres.
- lower costs.
Natasha Kennedy, anaesthetic consultant and Sustainability clinical lead at Whipps Cross Hospital, who led on the project, explained that ‘this area alone produces 50-70% of our total waste at our hospital’.
She said: “The move to better, disposable equipment has been prominent in recent years because of this, and the roll-out of new sustainable workwear in surgery has shown multiple advantages. The new reusable gowns not only perform better in testing, but their use across our hospitals will lead to a financial saving, and support our sustainability goals.”
Ann Hepworth, the Trust’s Group director of Strategy and Partnerships, added: “This project is a great example of sustainability innovation that shows brilliant collaboration between our teams to deliver projects that have Trust-wide benefits. By integrating sustainable practices into the way we deliver healthcare, we are taking a crucial step towards a healthier environment for our patients and communities.”