ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL
W
e are pleased to introduce you to the first-ever edition of
INSIDE
our hospital's newsletter dedicated entirely to the vital and
timely topic of environmental sustainability.
THIS ISSUE
At RNSH we recognise our responsibility not only to heal
and care for our patients but also to ensure the well-being
of our planet, which sustains us all. In an era where the
world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, our
commitment to eco-conscious practices has never been
more critical.
This newsletter is a space where we will share our
achievements, goals, and initiatives in the realm of
sustainability, as well as provide valuable insights into
how each of us can contribute to a more eco- friendly
future.
Our journey toward environmental sustainability is not a
solitary endeavour, but a collective responsibility. We
invite you to explore the pages of RNSH Green Matters to
hear more about the progress we are making.
Together, we can make a meaningful impact, not only on
the lives of our patients but also on our broader
community and our shared environment.
Amanda Harriss, Chair – RNSH Sustainability Committee
MEET THE RNSH SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
The RNSH Sustainability committee is made up of
passionate and dedicated staff that responded to the
expression of interest sent out last year to come together
and create our hospital committee.
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LIGHTS AND LIGHTING
PLASTIC TO ECO-FRIENDLY CUTLERY
The removal of plastic cutlery and
Did you know that RNSH
polystyrene cups has recently been
has approximately 40,000
achieved with the
lights across all the
introduction of a
hospital buildings and car
wooden single use
parks. Our team of hard-
option and paper
working facility staff have
been busy replacing the
cups. Ordering these
downlights with new
items via WINC and
the
HealthShare
LEDs. Over time all of our
Kitchen
catalogue
lights will transition to
have both been removed.
LED.
The benefit of moving to LED and away from
Thanks to our HealthShare colleagues with
incandescent and fluorescent is the power
the reintroduction of reusable metal cutlery
requirement per light is half of the old style and
for our ward’s pa tient kitchenette areas
the life of an LED is approximately 50,000 hours
also. It makes you wonder why we ever
compared to 30,000 hours. Changing lights at
changed!
RNS is a constant job, much like painting the
harbour bridge!
FURNITURE RECYCLING
BROWN PAPER BAGS REPLACE PLASTIC
Ever wondered what we do with old
The hospital’s introduction of brown paper bags
furniture, equipment, and visitor chairs?
for patient’s belongings
Well, we’re glad you asked. Now that we
has
removed
have been in the (not so new) RNS buildings
approximately 33,000
since November 2012, a lot of items are
pink plastic bags per
coming to an end-of-life period. This
year
from
the
includes many of our chairs. The RNS
environment. This is a
Corporate Services team is working with
fantastic reduction in
Ventia in turning over these chairs and
necessary
non-
replacing them with new ones. Old chairs
biodegradable plastic
will be stripped apart and the frames will be
which would have
repurposed into new chairs. Where possible
inevitably ended in landfill. Thanks to our Clinical
the fabric and foam will be stripped off and
Products team for sourcing the paper alternative
recycled. RNS is also involved with our other
product and managing the change.
District sites and facilities to share and
repurpose surplus equipment and
furniture. Another initiative to reduce
unnecessary waste and help each other.
HAVE YOUR SAY If you have a sustainability story or idea to share, feel free to write to us at NSLHD-PlanetaryHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
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RNS EXPLOITS SOLAR ENERGY
SAVE ENERGY - SAVE OUR PLANET
The buildings of RNS are controlled by a
Solar
panels
were
Building Management system which we
installed on the rooftop of
ordinarily refer to as the BMS. This BMS is
the Douglas Building in late
software based and allows for large
2022. This green energy
machinery, for example, air conditioning
option has enabled a
chillers and other plant equipment including
reduction in mains power
consumption . Public Private colleagues
lights to be altered to on and off via a
Our
computer. We recently reviewed our heavy
Partnership
plant machinery and reduced their power
at
Ventia,
consumption by approximately 15%. In
addition, we have been reviewing our
recently conducted a review of solar options for
nighttime light usage. Thanks to our teams
the Acute Services Building, Clinical Services
in the RNS Community Health Building, we
Building, Community Health Building and the
have altered the time when the lights are
Kolling. To install solar across RNS and retrofit
automatically turned off. Many of the
the power systems would require a funding
corporate areas had all lights on until 10pm,
solution to be found. Our District Corporate
7 nights per week. This has now been
Services team are currently reviewing
reduced significantly. If you think your area
Government grants and incentives. We are also
could have the lights automatically turned
exploring options for our heritage buildings on
off earlier in the night, contact the RNS
the southern campus. We will keep you posted
Corporate Services team.
with any updates as they come to light.
RECYCLE YOUR BATTERIES FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW
Did you know that we have a process for battery
disposal? All you need to do is:
1. Collect and store them in a suitable container.
2. Log a call with our Helpdesk team
HSNSW-RNSH-Heldpdesk@health.nsw.gov.au
3. Our waste team will be on their way to help you
discard them.
HAVE YOUR SAY If you have a sustainability story or idea to share, feel free to write to us at NSLHD-PlanetaryHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
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Meet our youngest Sustainability Committee member-
Elise Kerle. Elise is an occupational therapist at RNS and
her primary role is in acute care. She decided to join the
Sustainability Committee as she is committed to building
a sustainable environment and is driven by her passion
for change.
What she finds most exhilarating is the enormous opportunities at RNSH waiting to
be explored that will ultimately contribute to a healthier and more resilient
community – a dream of all healthcare workers! In her spare time, she loves going
to the theatre and live music concerts.
THE WORLD OF WASTE!
Waste and how we deal with it at RNS is an area that we could certainly improve. According
to the ARUP report, commissioned by the District to baseline our health service, waste is a
major contributor to our carbon footprint. So, what are we doing and what can we do to
improve?
Our ICT Team have an e-Waste service. Anytime, you have e-Waste that needs
collecting, call the ICT helpdesk and log a job. They will come and collect,
destroy all hardrives for cyber security reasons and send our e-Waste to a
registered waste provider to manage. So, please remember don’t just leave e-
Waste hanging around, make sure you access our secure e-Waste service.
In our clinical areas please orientate yourselves to what constitutes clinical
waste. Most items that you would assume are clinical waste should actually be
directed to general waste. Used gloves and other PPE are not clinical waste,
neither are adult and paediatric pads. Dressings with a small amount of bodily
fluids are also general waste. It can be quite confusing. If you are unsure ask
your Nurse Unit Manager and segregate wisely!
A new initiative by our food services team and our retailer Zouki is improving
the separation of organic waste (food scraps) from the general waste. Thanks
to our food services teams at RNS, separating food waste from patient's meal
trays will commence with the introduction of a dedicated organic waste
stream. Zouki will also be introducing waste segregation in their kitchens. Our
indicator of success will be the number of food waste bins doubling and then
tripling over time. Good luck team!
HAVE YOUR SAY If you have a sustainability story or idea to share, feel free to write to us at NSLHD-PlanetaryHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
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Get Involved
We will have more news and initiatives on waste in future newsletters for you
to learn about and get involved. Speaking of getting involved, you can now
access a brand-new SharePoint site that provides an oversight of what is
happening across the District with news and upcoming events. Please follow
the link to find out more NSLHD Planetary Health - Home.
If you have an idea for a planetary health or sustainability project you would
like to champion, there is now a pitch page you can go to Project Pitch
Page.docx. So, please get involved and together we will reach our targets.
Our Net Zero Lead Projects at RNSH
✓ Reducing calf compressor use in ICU – Louise Hansell
✓ Inhaler recycling project – Mellissa Batger, Dr Katrina Tonga and
Dr Sophie Timmins
✓ Reducing nitrous oxide – Dr Penny Hodges, Dr Andrew Lindberg
(RNSH, Ryde & HKH)
✓ Study of single use insulin pens – Dr Lyndal Tacon
✓ Avoiding general anaesthetic for paediatric imaging – Dr Carola
Wittekind & Dr Shabeena Mazhar
✓ Steel Got It! Metal hollowware project to reduce waste in theatres –
Erin Foulsham
HAVE YOUR SAY If you have a sustainability story or idea to share, feel free to write to us at NSLHD-PlanetaryHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
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