The implications of the introduction of a dedicated plastic surgery trauma list on waiting times and NHS spending

Abstract

PurposeNCEPOD (1990) states that we must ensure that all emergency patients have prompt access to theatres, critical care facilities, and appropriately trained staff 24 hours/day, every day of the year. Hospitals providing emergency services must provide a dedicated emergency theatre. Our previous study highlighted potential savings and reduced waiting times, leading to the introduction of a dedicated weekly half‐day list. This purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the extra list on both waiting times and spending.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on a prospective audit of emergency surgery (Lister Hospital, Stevenage) from October‐December 2006. Delay times from booking time to time of operation were calculated. This was assessed based on a standard of a day surgery unit, where the ideal maximum is a half‐day wait. Findings were compared with data prior to the introduction of a dedicated list.FindingsThere were 186 operations performed. The mean wait for surgery was 0.7 days/patient, compared with 1.3 days/patient prior to the dedicated list. Assuming that the ideal waiting time is a maximum of half a day, 55 per cent of patients achieved this, compared with 22 per cent prior to the introduction of the list.Originality/valueThe introduction of a dedicated day surgery plastic surgery trauma list led to a significant reduction in patient wait time. The dedicated list also achieved a potential reduction of 900‐bed days/annum, thus saving £180,000/annum for the trust.