Building an NHS fit for the future: Barts Health NHS Trust and Crown Commercial Service (CCS) achieve award-winning results for medical waste reduction.

Published 25 February 2026

Last updated 20 February 2026

Barts Health NHS Trust provides healthcare services to over 2.5 million people across 5 hospitals in north east London.

Up until February 2025, clinical teams, including those at Whipps Cross Hospital, used single-use, disposable gowns during surgery.

Switching to reusable gowns would reduce waste, save costs and lower carbon emissions.

Ending the single-use cycle for surgical gowns

Single use gowns are worn once, disposed of in clinical waste bins, and sent for incineration. The Barts Health clinical teams knew this level of waste was unsustainable.

They approached Wayne Yeboah, Procurement Specialist at Barts Health NHS Trust, with an ambitious goal. They wanted to find reusable gowns that were:

  • cost effective and reliable without negotiating on quality
  • easy to use in healthcare settings and maximised infection control
  • made from lightweight, breathable materials that could be easily laundered
  • more comfortable with consistent sizing cost-effective, more reliable, and more comfortable than current options, with consistent sizing and non-negotiable quality.

Building sustainability in healthcare through competitive procurement

Dawn Hare, Account Manager for Barts Health NHS Trust at Crown Commercial Service (CCS), met with Wayne on site at the Trust and identified an opportunity to help through our Healthcare Soft FM framework.

We worked closely with Wayne and his team to create a procurement approach that would meet all the clinical team’s goals. Dawn explains:

“We began the process with pre-market engagement. Working with Wayne, we talked to the market first to understand what solutions were available and to develop suppliers’ interest in the project. Working closely with the clinical teams, they created detailed specifications to ensure quality and sustainability standards would be met.”

Rather than a direct award, we advised running a mini-competition through the framework. Our experience shows this approach consistently provides the best possible outcomes and value. While it does require more planning, it made sure the NHS Trust could invite suppliers to compete on price, quality, sustainability and social value. 

The comprehensive contract terms also protected the Trust from post-award price hikes. This meant suppliers could not raise the price post-contract, keeping tax payer money safe.

Working together to create sustainable change for surgical teams

Dr Natasha Kennedy, Consultant Anaesthetist at Whipps Cross Hospital, led the clinical side of the project. She worked closely with Wayne and the CCS team to make sure the solution would work for surgical teams across all sites.

Dr Kennedy understood that the transition would affect tens of thousands of patients and thousands of staff, meaning the procurement had to be thorough and trustworthy. Dr Kennedy said:

“Working with CCS gave us a pathway to succeed. It allowed us to move forward safely and achieve all the required regulations.”

Significant benefits for Barts Health NHS Trust 

In February 2025, Barts Health NHS Trust awarded a 3-year contract for sustainable reusable theatre gowns. Within 6 months, they had replaced single-use gowns across 6 sites. This change was a huge step that created significant benefits, including:

Reducing clinical waste

Clinical teams at Barts Health NHS Trust will now use about 400,000 gowns a year across their theatres. The Trust expects this will reduce 90 tonnes of clinical waste from its surgical environment annually.

Improving theatre waste management

The project has helped to achieve up to a 60% reduction in total waste from the Trust’s most resource-intensive area. Dr Kennedy explains:

“Theatres typically produce up to 70% of our hospital’s total waste. Now, 50% to 60% of what would have gone to waste from our theatres is being eliminated through reusable gowns.”

Carbon savings

Barts Health NHS Trust will also save an estimated 375,000 kg of CO2. This is equivalent to what 1 of their smaller hospital sites would emit in 3 months.

Comfortable working environments for surgical teams

The new surgical gowns are made from breathable, softer fabrics. This improves staff comfort which helps to support focus during operations. More consistent sizing also makes it easier for surgical teams to quickly select the right gown from the shelf. Dr Kennedy explains:

“One of the absolute highlights of this project has been having people come up saying, ‘I’m so glad we have these gowns. I’ve used them at other hospitals. I’m glad you now have them here.’ “

Improving capability amongst NHS staff

The partnership also focused on more than the procurement process. Our ongoing support helped to strengthen internal commercial skills for future procurement projects.

Wayne describes Dawn’s support:

“Having Dawn on site in the hospital was invaluable. She put me in touch with the right people at each stage.”

We continue to provide this hands-on support to NHS trusts, ensuring they can access our expertise throughout their procurement journey.

 Creating an NHS fit for the future

The Barts’ greener gowns initiative supports the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future. By reducing waste and improving working environments for surgical staff, it shows how innovative procurement can help to create a more sustainable NHS.

The project’s impact reaches beyond one Trust. Dr Kennedy describes it as “the headline for the Trust for our greener plans going forward.”

More departments are now asking to join the gown supply, and the team is already working on the next phase: reusable surgical drapes – sterile sheets used in surgery to protect the patient.

This approach to health procurement has won 2 Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HCSA) awards for the London and South region, with further national award nominations.

 Find out more

Account managers and specialist category teams can help your organisation create procurement approaches that provide environmental, quality and financial benefits at the same time.

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