In early 2023 new mandatory measures were introduced for GPs across England in an attempt to dramatically cut the volume of healthcare waste being needlessly sent to incineration. Part of the NHS’s Net Zero targets, the introduction of the Offensive Waste stream has become a key element of the NHS’s wider Waste Strategy.
New waste stream, new challenge
Brought in on a compulsory basis – to ensure that the majority of waste produced in primary care settings is disposed of using either alternative treatments or energy from waste processes – NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were faced with the challenge of educating GP surgeries about the new Offensive Waste stream so that they could implement its introduction swiftly and effectively.
Implementing the Offensive waste stream – Anenta’s role
Recognising that ICBs had a genuine need for assistance, Anenta stepped in to offer its expertise in healthcare waste management and education.
Providing layers of support, Anenta worked closely with ICBs throughout England to enhance GP surgeries’ understanding of the process, offering assistance where required to accelerate implementation.
This included the delivery of seminars for ICBs and a series of virtual Practice Manager Q&A sessions. Through this support Anenta guided participants through the process, including how to correctly complete compulsory clinical waste pre-acceptance audits; a necessary step before the Offensive Waste stream could be introduced.
Aided further by remote one-on-one GP surgery sessions, and screen-sharing to address specific queries or issues, Anenta rolled-out support in waves. This included automated weekly reminders to GP surgeries, weekly updates to ICBs on surgeries yet to complete the process, and monthly overview reports.
Delivering training modules in support of GP surgeries
Recognising that training courses would help with the delivery of the Offensive Waste stream, Anenta worked closely with Health Education England to develop and deliver a 30-45 minute e-learning course via the Health Education England online portal, promoted to GP surgeries on Anenta’s online client platform and via regular e-comms.
Outlining what waste should go into which waste stream, correct segregation practices, and other important waste related guidance, the course played a vital role in preparing GPs for the change. This process has helped ICBs make the Offensive Waste stream the primary disposal route for waste produced by GPs, in line with the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.
Smart self-audit solution saves GPs over 24 hours of work
In addition to offering training and support, all GPs managed by Anenta have access to its innovative, time saving, digital self-audit solution. Pre-populating content using its cutting-edge client interface and waste contract management platform, Anenta’s advanced self-audit tool was able to cut pre-acceptance audit completion times for GPs down from an average of 27 hours to just 30 minutes. Without this being in place healthcare waste disposal providers cannot legally remove hazardous waste, including healthcare items, from GP surgery sites.
Benefits brought by the Offensive Waste stream
Through Anenta’s support, many of England’s ICBs now have a 100% GP pre-acceptance completion rate allowing the Offensive Waste stream to be introduced universally across their GP surgeries. This has led to impressive results including, in one ICB’s case, 41% falls in the volume of orange infectious waste bags being used by GPs, and a 331% increase in the use of offensive waste tiger bags.
Many other ICBs have seen a 200% increase in the use of the Offensive Waste stream, bringing them in line with the NHS’s national guidance for waste segregation, which is to achieve a 60/40 waste segregation split; Offensive Waste accounting for 60% by volume, and the remainder made up of infectious waste (40%).
Saving money and the environment
As a result of the introduction of the Offensive Waste stream, ICBs have seen lower levels of incineration, and associated CO2 release. Added to a reduction in volumes of waste being sent to landfill, this has not only enhanced compliance with the NHS’s waste hierarchy but it has also helped the NHS advance towards its Net Zero targets.
For GPs this has led to a dramatic reduction in the impact of their waste on the environment and, through the successful introduction of the Offensive Waste Stream, has helped individual ICBs cut healthcare waste disposal costs by over £900,000 in the last 12 months*.
Across England, Anenta calculates that total savings linked to the introduction of the Offensive Waste stream will exceed £2m in 2024, enabling more money to be spent on frontline services by the NHS.
* Financial year 01 April 2023 – 31 March 2024