This measure relates to interventions intended to reduce the carbon intensity of anaesthetic gas use (including nitrous oxide) for example, by reducing flow rates and reliance on nitrous oxide or nitrous oxide scrubbing technology.
According to the SDU Carbon Hotspots study, the total emissions due to Anaesthetic Gases are 119,250tCO2.
Case study source
Carbon Hotspots update for the health and care sector in England 2015
Reference Case: Significant cost savings for anaesthetic gases
Financial Calculations
Savings
Financial savings achieved at Lexington Medical Center in the US were $100,000, converting to GBP this approximately £70,062. The Center has 414 beds, indicating a saving of £169.23 per bed is possible.
According to ERIC Return data, there are 141,545 beds in the NHS as of 2015. An estimate of the scaled financial saving is in the region of £24,000,000, however, 10% of this value was used in order to provide a more conservative analysis.
Cost
Costs have not been included in the case study therefore an initial capital cost of £80,000 to implement the intervention has been assumed for calculation of the MACC.
Carbon Calculations
According to the SDU Carbon Hotspots study, the total emissions due to Anaesthetic Gases are 119,250tCO2. It has been assumed that the full level of emissions could be mitigated via improvements in Anaesthetic Gas systems.
Assumptions
It has been assumed that the full level of emissions could be mitigated via improvements in Anaesthetic Gas systems.
Costs have not been included in the case study therefore an initial capital cost of £80,000 to implement the intervention has been assumed for calculation of the MACC.
To scale to the individual organisation, the figures given above have been divided by the total number of operations and maternities such that an organisation can find the approximate value using the number of operations that they carry out annually.