Mr Oliver Hunt1, Mr Andrew Gay1
1Medsalv, Melbourne, Australia, 2Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Australia
Biography:
Oliver Hunt is the Founder and CEO of Medsalv, a certified social enterprise remanufacturing single-use medical devices. With a background in engineering and healthcare innovation, he leads a trans-Tasman team delivering safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective solutions to hospitals – reducing waste, emissions, and costs while creating meaningful local employment.
Abstract:
Every year, over 1.7 million single-patient-use tourniquets are discarded to landfill across Victoria’s public health system alone. At Bendigo Health, Medsalv’s tourniquet remanufacturing program is helping turn that around – demonstrating that sustainability, infection prevention, and operational efficiency can go hand-in-hand.
In collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team at Bendigo Health, this presentation explores the practical and clinical benefits of remanufacturing single-use tourniquets – safely saving the thousands Bendigo was sending to landfill, and compares that with other alternatives.
Key outcomes include:
Improved cleanliness control: Each remanufactured tourniquet is disinfected and validated in Medsalv’s ISO 13485–certified facility, reducing reliance on variable staff-led cleaning of reusables.
Visual hygiene confidence: Tourniquets arrive rolled, making it visibly clear they’re clean and ready to use—removing ambiguity for staff.
Less packaging, less waste: Supplied in bags of 25 with minimal packaging, and transported in reusable cartons, this helps reducing landfill and handling time.
Lower true cost: Tourniquets are delivered at a lower price point than most reusables and single-use options. No additional cleaning time, wipes, or disinfectants required to maintain safety and compliance – saving staff time for patient care.
We will discuss IPC considerations, staff feedback, and procurement insights, highlighting how simple practice changes can improve safety, reduce waste, and cut costs – and how holistic consideration of the clinical workflow helps make decisions more accurately.
Presented with the support of Andrew Gay, IPC Lead, Bendigo Health.