SUS 3 The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist

Aims

The climate crisis is scientifically irrefutable and poses a major threat to human life (1,2). Healthcare services face the paradox of managing the disease burden caused by the planetary crisis, whilst simultaneously contributing to the problem (3, 4). As surgeons, we have a duty to protect our patients and as such to decrease our environmental impact: this checklist aims to provide guidance towards more sustainable surgical practises.

Methods

A team of surgical doctors used evidence-based research, grey literature and expert advice, to identify interventions that:

The interventions centre on the 5 “Rs” of sustainability and where possible abide by the triple bottom line of sustainable quality improvement. Importantly, they are designed to specifically target recognised carbon hotspots in order to achieve a maximum reduction in the carbon footprint of surgical departments.

Results

The interventions identified were collated into a checklist with 16 recommendations to be adapted for use by surgical teams on the frontline and accompanied by a compendium of relevant evidence. The Green Theatre checklist was approved by the 3 surgical colleges in the United Kingdom and distributed among their surgical membership. It has gained wide support amongst perioperative professional bodies as well as from the Greener NHS.

Conclusion

The climate crisis necessitates immediate action. The dissemination of the Green Theatre checklist across the UK will guide surgical teams on the frontline to achieve more sustainable practices, helping the NHS reach its NetZero target.