NEONATAL staff at Oxford University Hospitals have banned polystyrene cups from their department to reduce waste and raise money for SSNAP charity, which supports sick and premature babies from across the Thames Valley.

Staff members, parents and visitors at the Newborn Care Unit (NCU) based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford can now buy eco-friendly water bottles and bamboo coffee mugs as alternatives to single-use polystyrene cups.

The move towards a more sustainable future was inspired by a staff member who, having joined Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust last year, wanted to encourage others to be more mindful of the environment.

Dr Claire Roome, a paediatric trainee who led the waste-reducing project, said: “Our Newborn Care Unit delivers world class neonatal care and it seemed natural to make this simple change to help protect the world that these babies will grow up in.”

NCU uses 96,000 polystyrene cups a year – the equivalent of 1,000 bags of rubbish – and the switch towards a more sustainable future will save £5,000.

The launch on Thursday coincided with a self-styled environmental awareness day.

The cups have been replaced with reusable SSNAP (Support for Sick Newborn and their Parents) branded Ecoffee Cup mugs and bobble water bottles.

Emma Cantrell, SSNAP charity director, said: “We are proud to be encouraging staff, parents and our supporters to reduce their impact on the environment.

“We believe that our investment in state-of-the-art equipment, research and excellent staff on the Newborn Care Unit should be mirrored by a commitment to reducing the harm we do to the environment that babies will grow up in.”

She added: “For every coffee cup we sell we will be placing a reusable cup in the neonatal unit for parents and staff to use.”

SSNAP also bought 150 reusable mugs last month specifically for parents.

Oxford-based The Nappy Shed, which sells reusable nappies, attended the launch and there was a sample set and special discount code for Cheeky Wipes, a reusable baby wipe company.

City council staff were also present to offer expert advice on reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Oxford Hospitals Charity, which helps fund equipment, research and training across the trust, is giving away 700 ceramic mugs, including at the children’s hospital and at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Joe Baker, from the charity, said: “Being able to provide mugs for waiting rooms, staff rooms and parents’ rooms across the hospitals is a really great way to help the environment.”