New projects to drive down greenhouse gas emissions making our health system more sustainable.
Dr Forbes McGain will lead a new research program focused on sustainable healthcare in hospitals after being awarded Australia’s first major medical research grant of its kind.
The Footscray Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Director and Western Health Anaesthetist received a $1 million National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant for sustainable healthcare.
The grant will involve five key projects focused on driving down greenhouse gas emissions in operating theatres and ICUs.
Dr McGain, who is the Associate Dean of Sustainability, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, said the healthcare system is responsible for 7% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
'Healthcare services need to be net zero carbon by 2050, but we are a long way from achieving this,' Dr McGain said.
'There is an urgent need to find new ways to deliver healthcare more sustainably, particularly in hospital operating theatres and ICUs, the locations with the biggest carbon footprint.'
The projects will explore the potential to turn off or reduce the energy output of large equipment (e.g. operating room heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) or systems that run continually.
'We also know that there are financial and environmental benefits of using reusable linen and that even unopened medical equipment is still being wasted,' Dr McGain said.
'Another area we are exploring is making sustainable medication prescribing choices, such as opting for oral medication instead of intravenous (IV).'
Dr McGain has spearheaded initiatives at Western Health that have changed how our health service operates, including upcycling plastic items and introducing more reusable products.
'We are thankful to the NHMRC for this grant, which provides an opportunity to research ways to improve patient care and health service efficiency and reduce financial and environmental waste,' he said.
