Logan Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) is reducing unnecessary use of non-sterile gloves to support safer, more sustainable care.
The Gloves Off initiative focuses on improving hand hygiene, lowering infection risk for patients and staff, and reducing the department’s environmental footprint.
Following collaboration with the Infection Management and Prevention Team, staff education, surveys and in-service sessions, the initiative officially launched on 18 March, aligning with Global Recycling Day.
Senior Medical Officer Dr Aimee Murphy said the campaign addressed a common misconception.
“Some staff and patients think gloves provide them with more protection from infection, but they are only safe when used correctly and when clinically indicated. Good hand hygiene is always required, with or without gloves,” Dr Murphy said.
Gloves Off is one of several initiatives led by the re-established Logan ED Green Team, co-led by Dr Murphy and Associate Nurse Manager Fiona Brown.
Driven by a shared commitment to sustainability, the team is working to embed environmentally responsible practices into everyday care.
“As a team, we’ve changed how we purchase and use resources to reduce our environmental impact,” Dr Murphy said. “We know healthcare waste has a major negative impact on the environment worldwide, and climate change directly affects people’s health.
“We want to do everything we can to protect our community.”
Alongside Gloves Off, the team has expanded recycling efforts, including recycling single-use suture metal equipment with other hospital metals.
More initiatives are already in progress, with the team continuing to explore new ways to reduce waste and improve sustainability across the department.
If your team is taking steps toward greener care, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Media and Comms to share your story.