Posted on 26-November-2024   by Daniels Healthcare

Leading the world – best practice in UK healthcare

The UK healthcare system has made significant strides in recent years to improve infection prevention, increase sustainability, and enhance cost-efficiency. These three pillars are essential to creating a healthcare system that is safe, environmentally responsible, and fiscally sound.

In fact, over the last 10 years, the NHS has become a world leader in the response to climate change, taking action to cut carbon emissions while building capacity and resilience into the way that healthcare is provided.

Daniels Healthcare is committed to supporting NHS Trusts and other healthcare organisations in achieving their green goals with innovative, cost-effective products and services that prioritise patient and staff safety.

In this blog, we explore recent UK initiatives in infection prevention, sustainability, and cost efficiency, showcasing the progress NHS Trusts have made in these areas.

 

Keeping patients and staff safe

Infection prevention has always been a central focus within UK healthcare, but in recent years, new initiatives and strategies have elevated it further. Infection control is crucial not only for patient health but also for protecting healthcare workers.

To address these needs, the NHS has been proactive, launching initiatives with schools and the private sector that improve hygiene practices, use cutting-edge technology, and implement collaborative solutions based on experience and collaboration.

Recent initiatives and progress

• The power of the patient experience: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust have taken a new and novel approach to their infection prevention and control (IPC) improvement efforts. The Little Voices project is a unique cross-department collaboration, allowing local schoolchildren to review children and young people’s hospital services, feed back to senior leaders, influence real change, and even help to recruit new nurses.
• Sharps safety: To protect healthcare staff from needlestick injuries and potential infections, NHS Trusts across the UK are increasingly adopting best practices for sharps safety including more consistent use of the free Daniels Healthcare safety audits and bespoke, targeted training that it offers to all its customers. Contact your local area representative for support.
• Trust highlights: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has successfully completed a three-year pilot programme with Oxford Nanopore Technologies concerning the rapid identification and analysis of pathogens in NHS intensive care units using nanopore sequencing – a world-first pilot collaboration on infectious disease.

 

Building a greener NHS

Sustainability has become a core focus for healthcare providers, driven by the NHS’s ambitious target to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.

Sustainable practices in healthcare are crucial for reducing environmental impact while still delivering high-quality patient care. Trusts around the UK have taken impressive steps toward sustainability, incorporating energy-saving measures, adopting green procurement practices, and improving waste management.

Whether you work in the NHS, work closely with the NHS, or you’re simply interested in what the NHS is doing to tackle climate change, you can sign up for the ‘Greener NHS bulletin’ here.

Progress and initiatives in sustainability

• Recycling and waste reduction: Many Trusts are now adopting the use of recycled materials and participating in programmes that improve waste segregation to increase recycling rates. For instance, Great Ormond Street Hospital reduced use of plastic gloves, and in doing so saved 21 tonnes of plastic and £90,000.
• Greener products: Daniels Healthcare has led efforts to provide sharps containers made from recycled plastic, helping NHS Trusts reduce their plastic usage and support the NHS’s sustainability objectives without compromising safety. The WIVA™ Infinity range is the world’s first UN-approved clinical waste container made from Post-Consumer Recycled Resin; and the SHARPSGUARD® eco pharmi range was the company’s first containers made from 100% recycled plastic.
• Energy efficiency: Several Trusts, including Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, have embraced energy-efficient technologies. As part of its partnership with E.ON to deliver a 15-year energy efficiency programme to cut CO₂ emissions by around 10,000 tonnes a year (the equivalent of taking more than 2,200 cars off the road), Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre is installing heat pumps and has replaced 9000 windows with double glazing.
• Trust highlights: North Bristol NHS Trust has made impressive progress by committing to carbon reduction targets and achieving significant energy savings through renewable energy solutions. In October 2024 it became the first NHS Trust to sign the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. Developed by the UK research and innovation sector, the voluntary concordat represents a shared ambition for the UK to continue delivering cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way.

 

Cost savings and efficiency

Amidst increasing demands, the NHS must focus on cost efficiency to continue providing high-quality care. By adopting efficiency-focused initiatives, Trusts can reduce unnecessary expenditure, improve service delivery, and make the most of limited resources. From efficient waste management to streamlined procurement, the healthcare sector is finding new ways to optimise operations and reduce costs.

Recent developments in cost efficiency

• Innovative procurement strategies: As well as making use of NHS Supply Chain to save money, some Trusts are taking a consolidated approach to procurement to lower costs and secure better pricing on essential products. The NHS London Procurement Partnership has been leading on an initiative, supported by NHS England, to help NHS trusts across England understand savings potential and access new framework tariffs for mobile phone voice and data services, identifying approximately £20M of savings.
• Optimised waste management: Efficient waste management systems contribute not only to infection prevention but also to significant cost savings. By adopting Daniels Healthcare’s sharps containers with specially-designed convex lids for maximum capacity, Trusts have been able to reduce replacement frequency. Daniels Healthcare’s ‘Combine & Save’ offer also aligns with a long-term view of cost management that offers savings on a Trust’s total spend.
• Trust highlights: Improvements at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust will create a better experience for both patients and staff and save the Trust an estimated £1M a year in energy costs.

 

Steven Boyle, Sales Director UK & Ireland, Daniels Healthcare, said: “As Daniels Healthcare continues to provide innovative solutions that support these initiatives, we remain committed to being a trusted partner to the NHS and other healthcare organisations striving for excellence.

“By adopting safe, sustainable, and cost-effective waste management practices, NHS Trusts are paving the way for a better future in healthcare. We commend these achievements and look forward to supporting even more progress in the years to come. Together, we can build a healthcare system that serves both people and the planet.”

For more information on how Daniels Healthcare can support your organisation’s infection prevention, sustainability, and cost-efficiency goals, please contact us.