The world is already seeing many adverse health impacts from climate change. In the last few years extreme weather events have caused devastation across every continent. It is estimated heat related deaths around the world increased by 68% between 2000-04 and 2017-21. In the UK in 2020 legislation was introduced to embed net zero emission targets for NHS service providers. Such legislation acts as an enabler of change to more sustainable practices. Harris H et al (2021) reported surgeons in the UK were frequently concerned about climate change and this had led to changes in behaviour in their personal lives. In this study although surgeons agreed they should be aware of environmental impacts in their working lives, fewer had changed behaviours in their work environment. It is hard to say whether this data would be reflective of surgeons’ positions in Australia.
In Australia it is suggested that health related activities account for 7% of all air pollution. Discussions around sustainability which address environmental, economic and societal aspects of concern are increasingly commonplace, but seldom relate to hospital and operating theatre environments. Patient care, safety and infection control dominate operating theatre activities and increasing focus on efficiencies and cost savings result in little opportunity for “green discussions”.
An example, from a practical standpoint, is a commonly held belief that single use items are safer as regards infection control and cheaper than their reusable counterparts. This viewpoint might have been justifiable 20 years ago but there now many studies using contemporary life cycle analysis, which refute these concerns. I intend to review current evidence and practices from around the world, and Australia, and hope to encourage thoughtful discussion in this space.