A nurse from University Hospital’s Dorset (UHD) has come up with an environmental idea that is set to be taken up by other trusts.

Helen Spencer-Jones has been nominated in the ‘Greener Nursing Practice’ category for the RCN Nursing Awards and will go through to the finals which take place in London in October.

She noticed that the ethyl chloride local anaesthetic spray which is used most often during hip and knee replacements to check anaesthesia has worked, is released into the atmosphere once used, remaining there for up to two months before it breaks down. The spray packaging is also disposed of in general waste and cannot be recycled.

Helen and her team recognised an opportunity to change this and sourced ‘cold sticks’ – solid stainless-steel sticks with handles that absorbed the cold and could be held against the patient’s skin to provide an ice-cold sensation instead of using ethyl chloride. Helen has since been licensed to use the sticks by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and they are now available for staff to use across the hospital.

This project has gained interest around the country with other trusts getting in touch to find out how to make the change. The cold sticks are also produced by a local Dorset company.

Helen said: “I’m very proud and excited to be nominated for the award and represent UHD.

“I never imagined that one small change could have such a huge impact which would spread to more than 30 trusts nationwide. NHS England has recognised the project with their own case study, and I receive updates from around the country on a weekly basis. After over 35 years in nursing, it is so very rewarding to know that you might really have made a difference.”