‹ Go back
Northampton University Hospitals Green Team Competition 2026
In March 2026, Northampton University Hospitals NHS Trust presented their Green Team Competition Showcase in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, celebrating the achievements of clinical teams working to embed sustainability into everyday practice.
The Green Team Competition is a clinical leadership and engagement programme for NHS organisations wishing to improve the sustainability of their services. Through the programme, six clinical teams at Northampton University Hospitals were supported by CSH to identify, plan, implement and measure quality improvement projects using the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) methodology.
Project support and implementation
CSH has worked directly with clinical teams across Northampton University Hospitals on six projects to support them in delivering greener, higher-value care through the application of the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) methodology. By combining clinical insight with practical mentoring, teams were guided to explore how their services could improve health outcomes while reducing environmental and social costs. Using the sustainable value equation as a foundation, the teams progressed to active project delivery, developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that bring meaningful, measurable change in line with wider sustainability goals.
Showcase Event
At the Showcase event on 6 March 2026, the teams presented their projects, including the financial, environmental and social outcomes achieved, as well as opportunities for next steps.
This year’s competition saw teams across Northampton University Hospitals praised for the quality of their projects, the depth of their reporting and their commitment to improving care for patients while reducing environmental impact.
The Showcase event brought together colleagues from across the Trust, with judging by:
- Rachel McLean, Transformation Director, CSH
- Prof. Chris Frerk, Consultant Anaesthetist, NGH
- Jo Smith, Director of Nursing, UHN
- Rachel Pell, Deputy Head of Procurement, UHN
Their insights helped recognise the projects that demonstrated significant, measurable improvements in patient care, staff experience and environmental outcomes, also demonstrating benefits to staff and patient wellbeing, safety and experience.
The impact
The Green Team Competition has brought meaningful, measurable value to HHFT. Collectively, the projects delivered through the competition are forecast to achieve £318,289 in annual cost savings and cut carbon emissions by approximately 172,797 kgCO₂e each year.
That’s the environmental equivalent of:
- Driving more than 508,376 miles in an average car
- Completing roughly 627 return journeys between Hampshire and Glasgow
- The annual carbon absorption of around 6,912 mature trees
Beyond the figures, the programme has helped foster a growing culture of sustainability within clinical teams, inspiring more thoughtful, efficient and person-centred approaches to delivering care.
These early achievements highlight how locally driven, well-supported initiatives can contribute to the NHS’s net zero ambitions while enhancing patient outcomes and streamlining the way services are delivered.
Winners
Congratulations to the winning team, the Continence Team and Urgent Care Team
Their project introduced intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) as a choice for patients with acute urinary retention in Urgent Care, reducing unnecessary indwelling catheter use and associated infections. Successfully launched in SDEC, with an ED launch planned for spring 2026, the initiative aligns with NICE gold-standard recommendations and places patient empowerment at the heart of care.
With patient dignity and clinical best practice at the centre of their work, the team achieved predicted reductions in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, preserved bladder tone and reduced the risk of long-term catheterisation — while delivering clear environmental and financial benefits.
Claire Morton, Continence Specialist Nurse, NGH winning team
Highly Commended
Well done to the Radiology Team – CT Colonoscopy (CTC) Preparation and Energy Project, recognised for their practical, data-driven approach to implementing same-day contrast dispensing for the CT colonoscopy pathway and identifying energy-saving opportunities within Radiology. Their project delivered clear patient benefits — including 2 hours of unnecessary travel time saved per case — alongside demonstrable sustainability gains.
Sam Chatwin, Quality Manager Radiology, NGH highly commended team
Green Team Competition projects
Read the full Impact Report here or view the project summaries below.
1. Continence Team and Urgent Care Team – Introducing Intermittent Self-Catheterisation (ISC) in Urgent Care (Winners)
Team lead: Claire Morton, Continence Specialist Nurse, NGH
Setting / patient group:
Patients presenting with acute urinary retention in Urgent Care at NGH.
Summary
The team identified a significant waste hotspot where limited patient choice and missed opportunities to deliver care in line with NICE gold-standard recommendations had been identified. By offering patients with acute urinary retention a choice between ISC and indwelling catheters, the team reduced unnecessary catheter use and associated infections. ISC was successfully launched in SDEC, with an ED launch planned for spring 2026. Removing restrictive pathway criteria and staff education were key to success.
Outcomes
The project delivered a predicted reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), preserved bladder tone and reduced the risk of long-term catheterisation. Annual environmental savings are estimated at 1,941 kgCO₂e, equivalent to driving 5,711 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £14,032 per year from nursing time saved and avoided CAUTIs.
Social outcomes include improved patient empowerment and dignity, reduced anxiety, greater continuation of activities of daily living, and staff time efficiencies enabling focus on higher-value care.
2. Radiology Team – CT Colonoscopy (CTC) Preparation and Energy Project (Highly Commended)
Team lead: Sam Chatwin, Quality Manager Radiology, NGH
Setting / patient group: Patients undergoing CT colonoscopy; the Radiology Department at KGH.
Summary
The team implemented same-day contrast dispensing for the CTC pathway and identified energy-saving opportunities within Radiology. Bowel prep is now collected at the point of referral or posted to patients. The team is also working with IT to remove computer sleep mode overrides and establish remote power-saving on CT scanners — with no adverse clinical outcomes identified from reporting computers entering sleep mode.
Outcomes
Clinical benefits include reduced referral-to-scan time and improved compliance with the National Faster Diagnosis Standard. Environmental savings total 3,171 kgCO₂e per year, equivalent to driving 9,330 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £4,103 per year.
Social outcomes include 84% of patients receiving bowel prep at the point of referral or by post, 2 hours of unnecessary patient and carer travel time saved per case, and avoided patient travel costs and loss of earnings (£46 per patient).
3. Infection Prevention & Control Team – Sustainable Disinfection: DiffX Reusable Bottle Rollout
Team members:
Setting / patient group: Theatre areas across NGH.
Summary
The team replaced non-biodegradable single-use disinfectant wipes in operating theatres with DiffX disinfectant solution in reusable bottles and Ecolab wipes. Following multiple PDSA cycles, DiffX and Ecolab wipes were successfully rolled out Trust-wide. Correct preparation and clear role responsibility were identified as critical to success. Remaining areas using Clinell wipes and Chlor-Clean are to follow.
Outcomes
Zero episodes of C. difficile, MRSA, MSSA and CPE were maintained in theatre areas, with Trust-wide reductions in C. difficile since DiffX implementation. Environmental savings total 6,927 kgCO₂e per year, equivalent to driving 20,380 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £11,676 per year.
Staff reported positive feedback on ease of use and improved workflow. Initial concerns regarding odour sensitivity and bottle deformation were resolved and attributed to incorrect preparation.
4. Critical Care Team – Daily Sedation Interruptions (DSI)
Team members:
Setting / patient group: 16-bedded Critical Care unit.
Summary
The team aimed to optimise Daily Sedation Interruption (DSI) in critical care — increasing high-quality sedation holds, reducing sedation use, and strengthening MDT knowledge. MDT-wide DSI training was initiated, an interim sticker documentation system devised, and bedspace DSI information updated. The project modelled a reduction in sedation medications and IV/ventilator consumables.
Outcomes
The project achieved a 33% reduction in mechanical ventilation days (1.7 days per patient), with potential reductions in ventilator-associated pneumonia, critical care delirium and ICU-acquired weakness. Environmental savings total 1,002 kgCO₂e per year, equivalent to driving 2,947 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £5,412 per year and a theoretical cost avoidance of £141,358 through staff efficiencies.
Social outcomes include improved staff knowledge and confidence, leading to a more empowered, engaged and resilient workforce.
5. ENT Team – Transitioning from Microlaryngoscopy and Biopsy under GA to Transnasal Oesophagoscope Biopsies under LA
Team members:
Setting / patient group: Patients undergoing biopsy for suspected laryngeal and pharyngeal lesions.
Summary
The team evaluated the sustainable value of transitioning from microlaryngoscopy and biopsy under general anaesthetic (MLB GA) to transnasal oesophagoscope biopsy under local anaesthetic (TNO LA) for suspected laryngeal lesions. Over 100 GA procedures per year have been converted to LA. Patient selection and counselling were found to maximise impact, and the approach is replicable across other biopsy procedures.
Outcomes
Clinical benefits include reduced waiting times, faster diagnostic access on the head and neck cancer pathway, reduced risks associated with general anaesthetic, and improved patient tolerance of the procedure. Environmental savings total 1,539 kgCO₂e per year, equivalent to driving 4,529 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £75,879 per year.
An impressive 97% of patients rated their experience 8–10 out of 10. Social outcomes include reduced disruption — no fasting, hospital admission or prolonged recovery — and reduced staff workload intensity, resulting in improved wellbeing and service resilience.
6. Anaesthetics Team – Streamlining Procedure Packs
Team members:
Setting / patient group: ITU and theatres across UHN.
Summary
The team aimed to minimise environmental and financial waste from epidural, spinal and CVC procedure packs. Streamlined contents were identified for three procedure packs, removing unused items while adding line-insertion position confirmation items to potentially improve patient outcomes. Manufacturer confirmation on modifications and pricing is awaited before production commences.
Outcomes
No adverse outcomes were identified following removal of unused items, and removing gallipots aligns with national guidance on aseptic technique. Environmental savings total 948 kgCO₂e per year, equivalent to driving 2,790 miles in an average car, with financial savings of £72 per year from avoided waste (pack price change pending manufacturer confirmation).
Staff valued the reduction in waste and the integration of sustainability into their daily work. Pack contents are now aligned with real-world practice, removing the need to source additional items during procedures.
