Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
“We have worked closely with Sharpsmart who have provided constant support and guidance throughout our journey. I am delighted to report we have successfully met the goals and implemented the offensive waste stream across the Trust. Bridgewater will continue to work collaboratively with Sharpsmart to continue the good practice which has been adopted.”
Louise Hibbs, Estates Transactional LeadThe Challenge
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides mainstream, community, and specialist care to around 155 locations (including home patients) across North West England for people living in areas including Halton, St. Helens, and Warrington.
Health Services at Wolves is the Trust’s largest site and has been trialling Sharpsmart reusable sharps containers at an organisational level.
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had never had on-site support or guidance for their healthcare waste management. Without the offensive waste stream in place and no segregation, no waste was being diverted away from carbon-intensive treatments.
Not only did this mean higher costs and a higher carbon footprint, but it also made the 20-20-60 waste split target an improbable achievement.
The Trust was also relying on single-use sharps containers across all sites – not only an unsustainable solution for sharps waste but departments throughout the Trust were flooded with overstocked spares consuming valuable space.
Our Approach
STEP 1
Sharpsmart was awarded the clinical waste contract for the Trust with the initial objectives of streamlining and optimising the Trust’s waste management processes to help them work towards the 20-20-60 waste split target. This began with introducing the offensive waste stream and the provision of an on-site Healthcare Waste Consultant to conduct a thorough waste audit and train staff.
Working closely with Estates and the Infection Prevention and Control team, the Sharpsmart waste audit identified further opportunities for the Trust to reduce its costs and CO2e by implementing reusable sharps containers and metal recycling to enhance waste diversion for more sustainable treatment.
STEP 2
During a quarterly business review of the Trust’s performance in line with the 20-20-60 waste split, it was established that implementing all of the solutions identified in the auditing process would further support the Trust’s progress.
STEP 3
With key decision makers including IPC involved in the review process, an organisational trial of Sharpsmart reusables was agreed upon.
As Health Services at Wolves is the Trust’s biggest site and largest-volume producer of sharps waste, Sharpsmart rolled out its managed reusable sharps container service as part of an organisational trial and also introduced metal recycling solutions into the Podiatry and Dermatology departments.
The Solution
Sharpsmart reusable containers were rolled out site-wide alongside staff training on container usage, waste segregation, and best practices. Training was conducted using Sharpsmart’s blended learning approach of in-person face-to-face training, QR waste quizzes, and e-learning.
The Estates and Infection Prevention and Control teams were instrumental in the success of this waste management partnership with clinical staff trained to be able to train others, ensuring all staff are on the same page and up to date.
Educational materials including posters, clear signage and labelling were introduced throughout the Trust.
Regular site visits from Sharpsmart waste experts have been scheduled to keep the Trust on track with mutually agreed targets and KPIs, including the 20-20-60 waste split.
The Outcome
Any initial staff concerns about container sizes were quickly met with an improved service that optimises space and reduces staff labour – with much less space taken up by ‘emergency stock’ and a significantly reduced amount of time required for container changes, all staff have quickly noticed a difference and are happy with the efficiencies.
With in-depth training conducted across the site and everyone reached with the new process staff on site are pleased to be on the same page and with solid direction.
The organisational trial of Sharpsmart reusables has been a huge success. It’s awaiting final sign-off as the Trust looks to implement the system into other sites and areas under its care. By replacing single-use sharps with Sharpsmart reusables, the Trust has significantly reduced overall waste volumes.
Looking at the Trust’s offensive waste output over a year, the data shows they’ve achieved the 20-20-60 waste split target outlined in the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy, diverting the majority of waste away from carbon-intensive treatments.
July 2023:
- HTI 19.48
- AT 41.57
- Offensive 38.95
July 2024:
- HTI 13.65
- AT 25.86
- Offensive 60.49
The high volume of metal waste being generated is now successfully being diverted into metal recycling accounting for around 50% of their total output.
Jan-Aug Savings:
- Plastic – 56.1kg / Annual Expectation – 84.15kg
- CO2e – 317.1894kg / Annual Expectation – 474.7841kg
- Metal Recycling Waste – 39.86kg / Annual Expectation – 59.79kg