Getting better use of our theatres to provide better patient care is one of the Turnaround programmes currently underway.

The Theatre PMO Scheme started in February 2015 and is working with the clinical teams within surgery to ensure that collaborative patient-centred working is at the forefront of the scheme.

It aims to improve efficiency of theatres to improve patient access and improve patient flow and bring in additional income. This will be achieved by a series of measures including: utilisation of sessions, surgical access, fractured neck of femur pathways, extension of sessions, reduction in clinical and non clinical cancellations, clinician productivity, reduction in waiting list initiatives, reutilisation of available sessions. Workforce redesign.

We aim to improve list efficiency by stopping under-booking / over-booking of lists, getting all lists to start on time and finish on time,  reducing the number of patient DNAs in Day Surgery and cancelled operations; and  better management or removal of pooling where it does not work in some specialties.

In patient and facilities management we aim to  reduce intra-Trust site transfers and maximise bed availability, ensure patients are ready for theatre from ward/admissions areas and ensure facilities are available to support the lists i.e. X-ray and the right kit is in the right place on time/date. 

In estates management we aim to co-locate admissions unit with theatres on the HRI site to improve flow and improve Paediatric Flow from Ward 3.

We also aim to have the correct number of staff for every list that is required, to stagger lunch breaks and use of Theatre Assistants (ACPs)

There are three work streams meeting weekly each has clinician involvement (Clinical Directors, theatre managers, DSU and admission unit staff to name a few)and are reviewing issues such as; theatre workforce, patient flow through theatres. The commitment and energy with in these groups to make improvements and the willingness of the workforce to embrace change has been overwhelming.

Maureen Overton

For more info email: maureen.overton@cht.nhs.uk