Townsville Health Workers War on Waste

Hey waste warriors - I'll be doing my last day with Queensland Health on Friday - going back to Scotland - I'll be sad to leave, but I'll be really glad to be back nearer my family in these crazy times.
In my last few days I'm looking for people to keep up the war in theatres - coz we're gonna win it!
So far I have Tara Andrew, Alana Wharton and Candace Waugh who are going to be champions for anaesthetic assistants, OTA's and PACU - I'll come along to the huddle on Friday and I hope I'll get a volunteer from the theatre scrub nurses.
Anyone up to be a champ for ICU?

If you want to find out about what the Hospital WOW group is doing please email [email protected]

Just at the Townville Hospital War on Waste meeting hearing from Renae about her work in Brisbane - at PA & the Children's hospital - loads of brilliant ideas :)
There will soon be a hospital QHEPS page for our War on Waste - more news soon!

This weekend is the TED Countdown - amazing speakers on climate change and what we need to do https://countdown.ted.com

Countdown: To a better future. Countdown is a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action. The goal: cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, at the latest.

The next meeting of the War on Waste Group is next Wednesday 23rd Sept - 1200 - 1300 - Training room 1 & 2, Support Services in the Basement

Got a message from Rose on Maggie Island - great resources on their site

https://www.zerowastemi.org.au/zero-waste-at-home?fbclid=IwAR3BuJB2z9zHKyz3Y5rAh8xLM2SQWlY9zGXOcfL440YI9WJE-Q4qCmFWww8

Zero Waste At Home | zerowastemi.org.au Not sure what you can do at home to reduce, reduce and recycle? Check out this list to help you get started. Even one small step makes a difference!

Great news that other departments in the hospital are making progress with the War on Waste
I got to the meeting on Wednesday and there are lots of great things going on in the ED and other areas as well.
We should do a post for the Blah about all the great work we've done in theatres.
The next meeting in September has the recycling officer from the PA talking via Zoom -I'll keep you posted.

Meeting next week time changed to 1230 - contact [email protected]

Good news - some of the other departments in the hospital have been working away on the War on Waste. They have a meeting on next Wednesday 26th August - Training Room 1 & 2 in the Basement at 1200 - 1300

Latest newsletter from Climate and Health Alliance

https://www.caha.org.au/sustainable_healthcare_newsletter_june_2020?utm_campaign=gghh_newsletter_june&utm_medium=email&utm_source=caha

Sustainable Healthcare Newsletter June 2020 Welcome to our latest Sustainable Healthcare newsletter. We hope the information shared here assists you in your efforts to make our healthcare systems more environmentally sustainable and resilient.

Hi everyone in Townsville - I hope the war on waste is still going, while I’m stuck in Scotland
Have had a few cancelled flights so maybe 5th time lucky in a couple of weeks
Was listening to “So hot right now!” A new podcast on sustainability - Sir David Attenborough on this episode talking about how people eventually got the message about plastic

‎So Hot Right Now: Sir David Attenborough on Apple Podcasts ‎Show So Hot Right Now, Ep Sir David Attenborough - 25 May 2020

Here's the latest edition of the Climate and Health Alliance newsletter about sustainable healthcare
https://www.caha.org.au/sustainable_healthcare_newsletter_april_2020?utm_campaign=gghh_newsletter_april&utm_medium=email&utm_source=caha

Sustainable Healthcare Newsletter April 2020 Welcome to our latest Sustainable Healthcare newsletter. Thank you for everything you are doing to keep us safe from COVID-19, and your ongoing efforts to make healthcare more sustainable. We hope the news shared below highlights the some of the work that is continuing to make our healthcare systems...

Hi All - I hope everyone is keeping well
I am stuck in Scotland - hope the war on waste is still going - as well as the war on COVID
Not waste related but I thought people might like this podcast - Christiana Figueras - the woman who brought us the Paris climate agreement - was doing a book tour in Australia just before the lockdown and gives an interesting interview

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/outrage-and-optimism/id1459416461?i=1000468288636

‎Outrage and Optimism: 43. Coronavirus and The Climate Crisis + Live #TheFutureWeChoose Q+A! on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Outrage and Optimism, Ep 43. Coronavirus and The Climate Crisis + Live Q+A! - 12 Mar 2020

Thanks to everyone who was at the War on Waste meeting this morning
I’ll chase up the guys at the PA and Mackay and we can hopefully get started with recycling next week
Happy long weekend
Steve G

Here's the info from the council - I'm going to talk to their chief recycling person to make sure we're not wasting our time
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/water-waste-and-environment/waste-and-recycling/reduce-reuse-recycle

Recycling - Home, School, Work - Townsville City Council

ANZCA - my favourite college of anaesthetists has guidelines on sustainability - it's quite long - so here's the highlights
1. Sevo - not Des or N2O - they hang around for years and contribute to greenhouse and ozone problems
2. Propofol - TIVA - but what about manufacturing and excreted phenols???
3. Regional is best - yay!
4. We should plan for more ecological healthcare
5. Don't waste stuff on unnecessary tests and procedures
6. We need to look at overall impact of reusing or single use - sometimes the environmental impact of recycling might be greater
7. We can encourage manufacturers to put stuff in less packaging that's biodegradable or recyclable
8. Do we always need to draw up emergency drugs?
9. Operating rooms generate 20-30% of total hospital waste; wow!
10. Recycling programs in healthcare facilities should be standard practice - 60% less waste to landfill!!!

So that's the top 10 - all the details here -

www.anzca.edu.au

I’ve had a reply from Jenny Hill that the council can help us with a recycling toolkit - she confirmed that recycling IS actively going on in Townsville 🙂
I’ve contacted the guys at PA for practical advice
We’ll be organising a meeting in a couple of weeks to get started

https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/news/two-thirds-of-pa-hospital-now-recycling

2/3rds of PA Hospital now recycling | Metro South Health Over two thirds of Princess Alexandra Hospital is now recycling, with one ward alone saving the hospital close to $8,000 per year through their efforts.

Great to see this story in the Bulletin! 🙂

Island declares war on waste MAGNETIC Island residents have made it their mission to create a waste free movement that aims to educate the island community about sustainable practices.

This is a new page to help us get started with the War on Waste in Townsville
Health Workers have been trying to find ways of reducing our hospital's environmental impact, but there seem to be many obstacles to getting started.
2020 is the time to overcome the barriers and just do it!
Details of our first meeting soon ....