Leading corporate services provider, NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS), has unveiled the updated version of its ‘Medical and Industrial Gases (including cylinders and bulk liquid oxygen)’ framework agreement with an expanded scope so the wider public sector, alongside the NHS, can quickly and compliantly source medical and industrial gases from fully vetted suppliers.
The refreshed framework, structured across four Lots (categories), now uniquely includes a dedicated “Sustainable Solutions – Technology Products and Services” offer. This directly supports the commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to cut the NHS carbon footprint attributed to anaesthetic gases including nitrous oxide, by 40%.
Anaesthetic gases carry a significant environmental impact. For example, a single bottle of desflurane (once a commonly-used anaesthetic, now being phased out for environmental reasons), has a carbon footprint equivalent to burning 440 kg of coal, while up to 30% of nitrous oxide in canisters is estimated to go unused. The framework agreement’s Sustainable Solutions offer introduces a suite of technologies designed to reduce emissions, waste and cost, including:
- Nitrous oxide destruction units that capture and break down waste gas preventing atmospheric release.
- ‘One‑touch’ digital cylinders providing real‑time usage data to improve oxygen management and reduce unnecessary consumption and waste.
- Analgesic Gas Mixing and Delivery Systems that deliver precise gas volumes with no wastage or environmental hazards, support recycling of captured agents, generate cost savings and strengthen gas stewardship across clinical settings.
The framework agreement also uniquely includes Industrial Gases, enabling organisations including emergency services and educational institutions, to secure essential gas supplies that meet consistent safety and sustainability standards across diverse operational environments.
“The environmental case for action is clear. Capturing and destroying nitrous oxide could cut more than a third of NHS anaesthetic emissions,” says William Mitten, Category Manager – Health, NHS SBS.
Sweden has used nitrous oxide destruction technology for more than 16 years. Implementing it across 132 high‑impact NHS trusts could save around 90 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent ( ktCO₂e), and scaling it across the health service could reduce nitrous emissions by up to 75% with savings attained by tackling nitrous wastage.
Waste Reduction and Gas Stewardship Technologies
The framework agreement also provides monitoring, tracking and cylinder‑management tools that help organisations reduce residual gas waste, improve cylinder turnaround efficiency and prevent unnecessary atmospheric release. These solutions strengthen lifecycle management of medical and industrial gases and support circular‑economy approaches across public‑sector settings.
Mitten concludes:
“By embedding these solutions into the latest iteration of our framework agreement, organisations gain access to quality‑assured products and services that meet current regulatory standards, reduce risk and ensure safe use for customers and patients.
“A range of innovative associated products will also be available for approved organisations to consider throughout its lifetime.”
For more information, contact the NHS SBS team at: sbs.hello@nhs.net
