Hospital trust launches clinical recycling scheme

The NHS in Sussex has diverted 25,000 clinical items from incineration in the 12-month trial

A hospital trust is partnering with an environmental charity to turn non-infectious clinical waste into reusable training tools.

The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has been running a pilot scheme with The Wombles Community Charity across its seven hospitals for the last 12 months.

Approximately £35,000 was saved and the scheme diverted 25,000 clinical items from incineration, the trust said.

"The Wombles reuse and repurpose programme is now being offered to all NHS trusts and is set to save millions every year," a scheme spokesperson said.

Dedicated waste bins have been implemented throughout hospitals to collect non-infectious clinical waste.

Transported to a nearby staff training facility, the waste is then re-used in simulation settings, where non-sterile medical items are needed on a daily basis.

Julie Turner, from the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare, said: "So many items end up as clinical waste simply because they can't be used with patients – but in training, they're invaluable.

"By repurposing instead of disposing, we save money, reduce waste, and create more realistic learning environments for NHS staff."

Items unsuitable for training are donated to humanitarian projects abroad, including mannequins, catheters and cannulas.

Ellie Gibson, palliative care specialist nurse, said: "Delivering realistic palliative care simulation has helped our team strengthen communication, compassion, and confidence in end-of-life care."

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