Local action to reduce environmental impact of anaesthetics in Guernsey

Piped nitrous oxide will no longer be used in theatres in the Princess Elizabeth Hospital from this week in a move that will save the greenhouse gas equivalent of one million car miles a year.

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is one of the largest contributors to global warming from anaesthesia administration.

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Graham Beck, who is the anaesthetic department’s environmental champion, says:

‘This is the second major change to reduce our environmental impact after Desflurane was removed last year.

‘Anaesthetic practice has evolved and improved over recent years to rely on more modern volatile anaesthetics, intravenous anaesthetic techniques and regional (local) anaesthetic administration which improve patient care as well as reducing harm to the planet.

‘Studies have shown that because we now use so little nitrous oxide the wastage in pipeline systems means less than 10% of the gas is used by patients and 90% is wasted. We can still use nitrous oxide directly from cylinders if we want to but our total use will be greatly reduced by not having the pipeline.

‘I am delighted that this major change has been successfully completed and am committed to introduce further reductions in our environmental impact over the coming years. I would like to thank everyone involved at the PEH in theatres, pharmacy and the EBME (electro bio medical engineering) department.’

Nitrous oxide has not been banned for medical use and there is no legal requirement to decommission the pipeline.