How digital technology can tackle waste in theatres

In a recent study, surgeons estimated that 27% of single-use items opened at the start of each procedure remain unused on the table at the end.¹ This observation will be familiar to many who work in theatres, where a belt-and-braces approach to preparation takes priority above concerns over what materials might be left unused. Both environmentally and financially, however, this degree of waste comes at an enormous cost.

In this article, we unpack the complex and confronting topic of waste in the operating theatre, zooming out to assess the scale of the problem and zooming in on the initiatives of teams trying to reduce it. We present how hospitals can leverage digital tools centred around their theatre staff to help streamline workflows, increase efficiency, reduce waste, and drive changes toward a brighter, more sustainable future.

In England, the NHS produces around 600,000 tonnes of waste annually, costing more than £115 million to dispose of. Of this, 156,000 tons of clinical waste are generated by secondary care, the equivalent of 400 jumbo jets fully loaded with waste per year.² Clinical waste is generally treated using methods such as high-temperature incineration, which is far more energy-consuming, environmentally damaging, and expensive than general waste disposal, contributing up to 86% of a hospital's waste disposal costs.³