ASiT Sustainability Survey

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Scope: All surgical trainees in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including medical students and consultants

Aim: To gain granular understanding of trainee awareness of sustainability practices in surgery, as well as local practice.

The NHS is responsible for 5% of all UK CO2 emissions and has committed to becoming the world’s first ‘Net Zero’ Health Service by 20451. Unsurprisingly, the operating theatre is one of the most resource-intense areas with a large amount of waste and 3-6 times the energy-use compared to the rest of the hospital2. As a result of this, initiatives and clinical strategies focusing on sustainability in surgery are starting to be developed. As surgical trainees (now and of the future), we represent an essential component in the delivery of these schemes to achieve the Net Zero agenda.

Sustainability in surgery (and in healthcare more broadly) adopts the ‘triple bottom line’ principle whereby we need to consider the environmental, financial and social impacts in unison, whilst providing excellent clinical care. 

 

The aim of this survey is to understand trainee views on sustainability in surgery and gain an insight into local sustainability practice.