In a vibrant show of teamwork and environmental consciousness, QEII Hospital hosted its inaugural Clinical Market Swap Day event on 24 September.
Staff from across the hospital were invited to gather and exchange their unused consumables, stationery, and non-asset equipment that would otherwise go to waste.
Inspired by the success of similar initiatives at Queensland Children's Hospital, the swap meet aimed to reduce unnecessary disposal and promote resource sharing between departments.
The initiative was spearheaded by A/Director Medical Services Dr Alison Ryan, ADON Strategic Workforce Priorities Andrew O'Brien, Project Planning Officer Operations Jayden Mills, and Senior Director Environmental Sustainability Samara Currie.
Approximately 20 staff members from clinical units across QEII attended the event, embracing the opportunity to redistribute supplies for the benefit of both the environment and the hospital.
Specialist Outpatients Department Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) Audrey Miller praised the event for its positive focus on sustainable resourcing.
"The market day swap was a genius idea. It was simple, sensible and sustainable,” she said.
“We regularly review our stock levels to avoid unnecessary waste and cost, and many of us are already passionate about op shopping and repurposing. This felt like a natural extension of that mindset.”
The enthusiasm was palpable, with teams excited to share their surplus and discover useful items from others.
"Recycle, reuse and repurpose is my life during work and outside of work hours," said CNC Surgical Services Anne Chiverall.
"I wanted to come along and help where needed and support this wonderful concept. Being the first of hopefully many more Market Days, it allowed me to see what the different areas brought in to swap," she said.
The event was a success all round and highlighted the importance of sustainability in healthcare while fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
"I look forward to the next day and spreading the word for a bigger swap meet," said Anne.
QEII’s Medical Market Day marks a promising step toward greener, smarter healthcare practices across the hospital.