Post by Zahra Ahmed

Sustainability Update☘️🌍 It’s been a while since sharing updates from our sustainability work at UCL and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. So far, we have completed process mapping and eco-audits across six surgical pathways, including: -Reconstructive breast surgery (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap) - Autologous microtia reconstruction -Nail bed injury -Breast implant surgery -Abdominal wall reconstruction -Flexor tendon laceration repair These studies have been published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, JPRAS (Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and Annals of Surgery Open. I have had the privilege of presenting this work at several national and international conferences, including: -BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) annual congress -Association of Surgeons in Training -Surgical Research Society (SRS) and I am looking forward to presenting later this year at Plastic Surgery Research Council meeting in Los Angeles. Each patient pathway has unique carbon hotspots, but mapping and auditing them reveals consistent opportunities for change. Understanding the pathway enables targeted interventions such as local or regional approaches to anaesthesia where viable, reduced patient travel, and streamlined instrument packs. You can hear more about one of our most recently published eco audits on nail bed repair in a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open Keynotes podcast with Assoc Prof. Damian Marucci https://lnkd.in/eNw9y7-t or via Apple Podcats and Spotify. I look forward to continuing this work as we move to implement our proposed changes and re-audit outcomes, evaluating whether we can reduce both environmental impact and costs, whilst maintaining excellent patient care. Ash Mosahebi Alexander Zargaran David Zargaran Walid Walid Sabbagh Stephen Hamilton Norbert Kang Cecilia (Sevasti Panagiota) Glynou Ariadni Georgiannakis Olivia Kamoga Yasmin Kamel Hannah Cook Keiron Hakimnia Sara Sousi Professor Julie Davies FCIPD, SFHEA