THURSDAY, 28 OCTOBER, 2021

Photo attached: Dr Pavan Raju

Tayside Anaesthetist heading to COP 26

NHS Tayside Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Pavan Raju will be exhibiting a video at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) next month on behalf of the Scottish Environmental Anaesthesia Group about how healthcare settings can reduce their carbon footprint.

Dr Raju, who works at Ninewells Hospital, created the video as part of his work with the Scottish Environmental Anaesthesia Group. The video features anaesthetists from across Scotland discussing the work they are doing to reduce the carbon footprint in each of their locations.

The video includes topics such as the use of anaesthetic gases during general anaesthesia and ways to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by nitrous oxide, reusable equipment and the recycling of healthcare waste.

The video was successfully submitted for inclusion in COP 26 and will now be exhibited at the conference on Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 November.

Dr Raju said, “The Scottish Environmental Anaesthesia Group brings together environmentally minded clinicians and we work together to exchange ideas on how to improve our carbon footprint across all areas of healthcare.

“We thought with COP 26 being practically on our doorstep, we’d take the opportunity to make a submission and we are absolutely delighted that we were successful. This gives us the chance to share the work we’ve been doing to make an environmental difference.”

Chair of Tayside NHS Board, Lorna Birse-Stewart said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dr Raju for his work on this important topic. It is another example of the innovation of staff in Tayside who are constantly striving to improve.”

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Glasgow between 31 October and 12 November 2021 and will bring together delegates from all over the world to discuss climate change.

View the video from the Scottish Environmental Anaesthesia Group here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgCjmuXDHes

Contact:

Cara Longmuir

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740716