by Australian Society of Anaesthetists
The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) was formed in 1934 as a not-for-profit member organisation dedicated to supporting and connecting anaesthetists in Australia. Join Dr Suzi Nou as she talks about all things relevant to anaesthesia in Australia with experts, peers and members of the ASA. These conversations serve to inform, challenge and inspire you to be the best and safest throughout your career. Send your ideas and feedback to podcast@asa.org.au
Language
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Publishing Since
9/3/2020
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May 20, 2026
<p>In this episode, I'm reviewing an article that was published in the April 2026 Anaesthesia and Intensive Care journal (AIC). It's all about sharps waste management! A snapshot (literally) on what we are placing in our sharps bins and whether there is any room for improvement (spoiler alert - yes, there is plenty!). I also share some insights from my Sabbatical in Switzerland.</p><p>This podcast accompanies the poster designed by Dr Nathan Chin in the June 2026 Australian Anaesthetist magazine. Download your free copy <a href="https://asa.org.au/resources/publications" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>To read the scientific paper from AICm click <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0310057X261433580" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. You may need your ASA login to access it.</p><p>Three more episodes you might want to listen to:</p><p><a href="Ep69. Talking TRA2SH - trainee led research into sustainability in healthcare with Dr Jess Davies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep69. Talking TRA2SH - trainee led research into sustainability in healthcare with Dr Jess Davies</a></p><p><a href="Ep96. Introducing Prof Philip Peyton, new editor in chief at Anaesthesia and Intensive Care" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep96. Introducing Prof Philip Peyton, new editor in chief at Anaesthesia and Intensive Care</a></p><p><a href="Ep114. Laughing Gas, Serious Waste: Measuring Nitrous Wastage with Dr Ethan Fitzclarence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep114. Laughing Gas, Serious Waste: Measuring Nitrous Wastage with Dr Ethan Fitzclarence</a></p><p></p><p>Some AI generated notes:</p><p><strong>Episode Highlights</strong></p><p>00:00:30: Introduction to the sharps bin contamination study from April 2026 Anesthesia and Intensive Care journal, featuring artwork by anaesthesia trainee Dr. Nathan Chin</p><p>00:02:15: Sharps waste disposal costs 30 times more than general waste, with incineration producing 10 times the carbon footprint of regular waste disposal</p><p>00:04:45: UK data shows sharps disposal produces 50 times more carbon dioxide emissions compared to recycling</p><p>00:06:30: Zurich, Switzerland example demonstrating the "polluter pays principle" through mandatory tax-added garbage bags and strict recycling enforcement</p><p>00:10:20: Study methodology involved photographing sharps bins and counting non-sharps contamination across multiple hospital sites</p><p>00:12:45: Key finding: 79.5% of non-sharps items could theoretically be recycled, but only 18% could realistically be recycled with current hospital infrastructure</p><p>00:15:30: Most common sharps bin contaminants include glass vials (propofol bottles), plastic syringes without needles, IV lines, endotracheal tubes, and single-use stainless steel instruments</p><p>00:18:15: Only 19% of surveyed hospitals can recycle plastic syringes and one-third can recycle plastic ampoules, with glove recycling available at only one surveyed site</p><p></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><p>Healthcare waste management practices significantly lag behind residential recycling standards; implementing systematic segregation at point of use could dramatically reduce environmental impact and costs</p><p>Policy presence alone does not ensure compliance—hospitals must invest in infrastructure, education, and accountability systems to translate waste management guidelines into operational reality</p><p>Individual clinician behaviour change is achievable and impactful; simple actions like detaching needles from syringes before disposal can redirect substantial waste from expensive sharps streams</p><p>Hospitals should audit their recycling capabilities and partner with waste management providers to expand options for plastic syringes, glass vials, and metal instruments currently defaulting to sharps bins</p><p></p><p><strong>Quotable Moments</strong></p><p>"Sharps bin waste is the most expensive waste to get rid of, both from an economic perspective and also in terms of the impact on our environment."</p><p>"Getting rid of sharps waste could be 30 times more expensive than getting rid of general waste. 30 times!"</p><p>"Sharpe's disposal, the autoclaving crushing landfill type of disposal, produces 50 times the amount of carbon dioxide emission compared to recycling. 50 times. Whoa."</p><p>"We buy stuff, we open endless amounts of packaging and we don't think about how or how much it's going to cost to dispose of it."</p><p>"Nearly 80% or four in five items could have been recycled for perhaps one 50th of the carbon footprint. That is astounding."</p>
May 3, 2026
<p>In this episode, I explore trauma informed care with expert clinical psychologist Brigette Berry who specialises in acute and chronic pain. We examine five core principles of Fallot and Harris (2009): safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.</p><p>Trauma informed care benefits all patients, not just those who have disclosed trauma. For example, many women may have undisclosed trauma, children and neurodivergent people could all benefit from the application of these principles.</p><p>Brigette recommends the <a href="https://blueknot.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Blue Knot Foundation</a> for support and further training.</p><p>Three other episodes of the Australian Anaesthesia podcast you might enjoy listening to are:</p><p><a href="Ep55. Hypnothttps://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/99504620-4e5e-452e-9627-1b3dce8843b9/ASA-20Podcast-20Episode-20055-20v3-converted.mp3ising children! with Drs Annette Webb and James Auld" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep55. Hypnotising children! with Drs Annette Webb and James Auld</a></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/79e68d74-37ea-4fad-af05-020e0aee751f/V3-20-20Communicate-20Like-20a-20Boss-20-converted.mp3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep60. Communicate like a Boss with Dr Andrea Wojnicki</a></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/ee9632df-8266-49ed-ac54-d1474a1382b7/EP83-Women-s-Empowerment-AAP-converted.mp3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep83. The Women's Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (WELI) with Prof Nina Deutsch & A/Prof Larry Schwartz</a></p><p>Let me know if you're interested in the Blue Knot training or any other feedback: podcast@asa.org.au</p><p></p><p>Some AI generated notes:</p><p><strong>Episode Highlights</strong></p><p>00:02:15: Suzi introduces the concept of non-technical skills as essential core competencies for good doctoring, noting that anaesthetists can inadvertently contribute to patient trauma through insensitive communication.</p><p>00:05:30: Bridgette defines trauma using DSM-5 criteria as experiencing a literal or perceived threat to life, and notes that general anaesthesia itself may constitute a perceived threat to self.</p><p>00:08:45: Discussion of statistics showing one in three women have experienced interpersonal violence, emphasising the prevalence of trauma in patient populations without requiring explicit disclosure.</p><p>00:12:20: Explanation of the five trauma-informed care principles from Fallot and Harris (2009): safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.</p><p>00:15:00: Practical safety applications including physical environment modifications (lighting, noise reduction), narrating procedures, and obtaining consent for physical contact.</p><p>00:22:30: Bridgette highlights unconscious behaviours in healthcare settings, such as lifting blankets without introduction or consent, demonstrating how small actions affect emotional safety.</p><p>00:28:15: Discussion of preoperative communication using positive language and imagery to support post-operative recovery and self-efficacy, referencing hypnosis-based communication techniques.</p><p>00:35:40: Bridgette introduces the COPE AHEAD skill from dialectical behaviour therapy as an evidence-based framework for imagined rehearsal and coping strategy preparation.</p><p>00:42:00: Emphasis on maintaining professional boundaries and respectful containment as essential components of trustworthiness, alongside being curious about fostering safety.</p><p>00:45:15: Bridgette recommends Blue Knot Foundation training and resources as practical tools for implementing trauma-informed care in healthcare settings.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><p>Trauma-informed care is universal best practice applicable to all patients, not only those with disclosed trauma histories, and benefits neurodivergent individuals and children equally.</p><p>Simple acts of narration, consent-seeking, and signposting (e.g., "I'm about to put the drip in") significantly reduce threat perception and build emotional safety without requiring additional time.</p><p>Anaesthetists have a powerful preoperative role in setting positive post-operative outcomes through clear expectations, anxiety reduction, and empowering communication that improves both physical recovery and patient trust in healthcare systems.</p><p>Individualisation within a trauma-informed framework is essential; clinicians should remain flexible and responsive to patient cues, recognising that some patients may find excessive choice overwhelming while others require it.</p><p>Professional development training through organisations like Blue Knot Foundation provides practical, evidence-based tools for implementation, and adopting these principles requires ongoing humility and willingness to unlearn and relearn practices.</p><p><strong>Quotable Moments</strong></p><p>"There is always something more to learn, something more I can improve upon."</p><p>"One in three women have experienced some type of interpersonal violence, as an example. So if we think about one in three patients that we see for anaesthetic procedures, you know, there's a high proportion of those who experience traumatic events."</p><p>"Re-traumatisation is a very real thing. And I guess when we go through the principles, I can dive in slightly further. But we know, especially for those who have been through the more kind of chronic, prolonged, inescapable traumas, that are cumulative, we're less likely to feel safe within our own bodies."</p><p>"Even if we're asking the question of, is there anything else we can do in this space within reason that could make you more comfortable? That's really therapeutic than just not asking and making the person feel like they can't advocate for anything."</p><p>"It's the spirit of cooperation. So that may have to involve negotiation for the specific person in front of me."</p><p>"Being curious about how can I foster more safety. I think training, professional development training within your setting is really, really helpful."</p><p>"It's very humbling though, I will say, working in a trauma-informed way. So there's always stuff to learn unlearn, relearn, you know, and it's about humbling ourselves enough to be okay with that process because it makes us better clinicians and then it gives our patients a better experience."</p>
April 5, 2026
<p>In this episode I chat with Dr Mark Priestley, Chair of the Leadership and Management Special Interest Group (LAMSIG), Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) NSW and ANZCA Councillor.We are chatting about one of my favourite topics – leadership!</p><p>We go through my 4 part leadership curriculum, the importance of identifying core personal values, his work based on the book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Crucial-Conversations-Kerry-Patterson/dp/1469266822" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Crucial Conversations</a>” and navigating media when speaking out.</p><p>Want to continue discussing leadership?</p><p>Listen to <a href="https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/ee9632df-8266-49ed-ac54-d1474a1382b7/EP83-Women-s-Empowerment-AAP-converted.mp3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 83</a> where I chat with Professor Nina Deutsch and Assoc Prof Larry Schwarz about the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative</p><p>Dr Priestley hosts a leadership and management discussion at the ASA’s 2025 National Scientific Congress (NSC). The videos from the 2025 NSC are due out in August. ASA members can access them <a href="https://asa.org.au/asaeducation/educational-recordings/nsc-recordings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The leadership collection of the Australian Anaesthesia podcast can be found on the <a href="https://acecc.org.au/special-interest-groups/leadership-management/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LAMSIG webpage</a>.</p><p>Find out more about AUS-NZ WELI and apply to join <a href="https://ausnzweli.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br></p>
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Professor Guy Ludbrook
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Dr Shari Hall
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Annette Webb
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James Auld
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Chau
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nurse Sarah
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Dr Zain Upton
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Renee Franklin
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Melanie Johns
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Dr Ryan Salter
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Dr Samer Narouze
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The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) was formed in 1934 as a not-for-profit member organisation dedicated to supporting and connecting anaesthetists in Australia.
Join Dr Suzi Nou as she talks about all things relevant to anaesthesia in Australia with experts, peers and members of the ASA. These conversations serve to inform, challenge and inspire you to be the best and safest throughout your career.
Send your ideas and feedback to podcast@asa.org.au
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