IVC Evidensia has announced a major £500,000 investment to advance sustainable anaesthesia in its UK veterinary practices.

The initiative ensures every practice in the UK network now has access to essential equipment, such as capnography and multiparameter monitors, enabling safe adoption of low-flow anaesthesia techniques.

Emissions from anaesthetic procedures account for around 30% of the carbon emissions of a typical veterinary practice. Low-flow anaesthesia minimises the amount of fresh gas and anaesthetic agent used during procedures, reducing environmental impact while maintaining or improving patient safety.

Alongside this, IVC Evidensia has rolled out comprehensive training, including bite-size e-learning, face-to-face sessions, and digital resources, empowering veterinary teams to lead change and improve patient care.  A ‘low-flow anaesthesia’ Care Framework has accompanied the launch, and further training will be launched over the coming year to support the behavioural change programme.  Practices will be able to track progress with an anaesthesia carbon data dashboard.

Working in partnership with Burtons, which produces vet equipment including vet anaesthesia equipment, almost 500 pieces of new equipment have been distributed to IVC Evidensia practices in the UK and thousands of clinicians have downloaded the digital training and resources.

The approach is designed to overcome three main barriers to adoption: awareness, equipment availability and clinical confidence, with a focus on empowering Reigstered Veterinary Nurses and supporting change management at a practice level, to help deliver lasting change.

Early indications show a reduction in anaesthetic agent and oxygen use, contributing to both environmental sustainability and improved patient care.

Richard Hooker, Country Medical Director said: “By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, comprehensive training, and ongoing support, we are empowering our teams to deliver sustainable anaesthesia with confidence and safety. This commitment ensures we continue to provide the highest standard of care for our patients.”

Sarah Heath, Group Sustainability Director at IVC Evidensia, added: “This initiative is a win for our patients, our people, and the planet. It highlights our dedication to driving positive change across the veterinary profession and sets a benchmark for sustainability in clinical practice.”

The project is designed to be shared with the wider veterinary profession, encouraging others to adopt similar approaches for the benefit of patients, the planet, and the profession.