A pilot study of the hidden costs of leaving on hospital computer monitors: can OMFS lead the way?

Healthcare systems are significant contributors to the growing climate crisis. The NHS has pledged a net zero target by 2040. This pilot investigated the environmental and financial impact of leaving computer monitors on during out-of-hours service within the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) departments. A total of 151 monitors were surveyed over a varied period, revealing that on average, 92.7% remained on overnight. Each monitor left in active mode costs approximately £14.47 annually compared to £0.47 in energy-saving mode. Extrapolating these results across the Trust, switching off monitors could save an estimated £150,000 and reduce emissions by 121.69 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions (CO2e) per year, equivalent to 6000 planted trees. These findings emphasise the need for targeted strategies to support the NHS’s goal, with OMFS departments leading the way in sustainability initiatives.