An NHS Elective Hub in North West England collaborated with Prism Improvement and Four Eyes Insight to implement a Theatre Improvement Programme over 20 weeks. This initiative aimed to optimise surgical productivity and address operational inefficiencies through innovative methods.

Key Outcomes

• Additional Cases: The programme delivered 115 additional cases in 20 weeks, with a trajectory to achieve 679 additional cases for the full year.
• Productivity Increase: High-Performance Listing (HPL) led to a 30% increase in productivity, significantly improving patient safety and reducing wait times.

Programme Overview

The programme focused on two main areas:

1. High-Performance Listing (HPL): This model refined workflows to overlap processes, minimising inefficiencies and increasing surgical activity.
2. Firm Foundations: Addressing systems, processes, and cultural challenges impacting theatre productivity.

Impact

• Clinical Safety: The programme maintained clinical safety while increasing the number of cases handled.
• Financial Benefits: The initiative generated additional income of £32,532, with a net cost-benefit of £4,488 after expenses.
• Specialty Performance: Significant reductions in changeover times and increases in surgical activity were observed across various specialties, including ENT, Orthopaedics, and Gynaecology.

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Sustainable Solutions

By embedding HPLs as a standard business-as-usual practice, the Hub aims to create capacity for an additional 679 patients annually, generating over £1.5m in additional income. The Daily Situation Report (Sit Rep) developed during the programme provides real-time operational oversight, ensuring sustained improvements in theatre utilisation.

Conclusion

The Elective Hub’s collaboration with Prism Improvement and Four Eyes Insight has set a benchmark for surgical productivity. The successful implementation of HPLs and Firm Foundations has not only enhanced operational efficiency but also improved patient outcomes and financial performance.

View the PDF here for more information on the programme and a detailed look at the work undertaken.

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