Operating theatres are an important focus in carbon reduction: they account for as much as 25% of hospitals’ carbon emissions, despite fewer than 5% of hospital inpatients undergoing surgery.
Patient Advocate and Research Involvement Lead at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Dr Lesley Booth CBE said: “Reducing the environmental impact of surgery is hugely important to improving health more broadly. We know that climate change and air pollution have wide impacts on health, many of which aren’t measurable for years to come.
