Case studies
The case studies below demonstrate successful work across Health Boards to redesign surgical tray sets by removing unused instruments and retaining only those required. This has reduced waste, saved time, and minimised the environmental impact of delivering surgical services
| Case study | Details | Published |
| Breast biopsy tray - NHS Lothian | The Breast Theatres team at redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact. | August 2026 |
| Total knee replacement tray - NHS Forth Valley |
The Breast Theatres team at NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. |
August 2026 |
| Major laparoscopic trays - NHS Lothian | The Colorectal team at NHS Lothian’s Western General Hospital redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. | August 2026 |
| Minor laparoscopic tray - NHS Lothian | The Colorectal team at NHS Lothian’s Western General Hospital redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. | August 2026 |
| Heart value tray - NHS Lothian | The Cardiac team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. | August 2026 |
| Leaned spinal basic tray - NHS Lothian | The Neurosurgery team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. | August 2026 |
| Scoliosis tray - NHS Lothian | The Scoliosis team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services. | August 2026 |
| Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Death (CEPOD) medium basic tray - NHS Lothian | The CEPOD team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services | August 2026 |
| Robotics lean tray - NHS Lanarkshire | The Robotics team at NHS Lanarkshire’s University Hospital Hairmyres redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services | August 2026 |
| Heptobilliary tray set - NHS Lothian | The transplant team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services | August 2026 |
| Kidney transplant prep tray - NHS Lothian | The transplant team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services | August 2026 |
| Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Nephrectomy - NHS Lothian | The transplant team at NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh redesigned surgical tray sets to include only essential instruments, reducing waste, saving time and lowering the environmental impact of surgical services | August 2026 |