Royal Free Hospital
Since installing the Sharpsmart system the Hampstead site has been able to take ownership of our sharps collections and stock levels on site. It has ensured that disposal is at point of patient care reducing risks of needle stick injuries. It has also provided a sustainable system that has saved the Trust financially too.”
Dave Reavy, Facilities Manager at the TrustThe Challenge
As an organisation renowned for its world-class expertise, the RFL were looking for a sharps collection solution that would help them reduce emissions, save money, and reduce needle-stick injuries in order to optimise the safety of staff and patients alike. The prior system in use was a single-use sharps container, disposed of via incineration following each use.
Our Approach
STEP 1
Sharpsmart undertook an extensive review of the types of container that both Trusts were using, as well as how many they were purchasing on an annual basis. This information was utilised alongside a hospital ward audit to provide a detailed installation plan for Sharpsmart’s safety engineered sharps system.
STEP 2
It was identified that, as well as the environmental advantages, the Trusts would also benefit from a reduction in needle stick injuries due to the inherent safety features of the Sharpsmart System, together with as a substantial reduction in the associated costs of procuring and disposing of bins
STEP 3
Sharpsmart containers were introduced to the Royal Free in 2014 and implemented across the entire site. At project commencement the safety engineered system was rolled-out and all disposable sharps containers removed in order to ensure that the new system was fully utilised. As well as providing a full-time porter and carrying out monthly audits to measure how well the system was being used, the Clinismart education solution was also implemented across the hospital with a view to educating staff to ensure all containers were filled effectively and helped save money.
The Solution
Since the introduction of the Sharpsmart system to the RFL, the Trust has experienced a wide range of benefits across the board, including significant cost savings, a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 90% in comparison to disposable burn bins, an improved patient and employee experience, reduced waste volumes and educational opportunities for all staff.
The Outcome
Since the introduction of the Sharpsmart system to the RFL, the Trust has experienced a wide range of benefits across the board, including significant cost savings, a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 90% in comparison to disposable burn bins, an improved patient and employee experience, reduced waste volumes and educational opportunities for all staff.
Royal Free Hospital achieved:
- CO2 reduction of 156.56 tonnes
- Sharps waste reduction of 27.69 tonnes