OPERATING THEATRES/SURGERY ARTICLES

Patients who have undergone limb amputations will no longer have to suffer with chronic and debilitating pain, thanks to an early intervention surgical technique that takes just 15 minutes and requires no specialist equipment.

In this article, Giovanni Dall’Amico discusses the delivery of limb reconstruction in resource-constrained healthcare systems. Healthcare providers under pressure can learn a great deal from conflict zones and Giovanni shares some valuable insights.

Mona Guckian Fisher discusses a risk-based and systems approach to perioperative safety. She argues that recognising human variability as both vulnerability and strength allows surgical systems to transform uncertainty from a source of threat into a foundation for resilience.

Richard Carter discusses how data-driven insights can help operating theatre teams expand capacity and drive improvements in efficiency, at a time when the NHS is working hard to tackle waiting lists.

The new Welbeck Cambridge Surgery Centre will advance patient-centred, minimally invasive specialist care in the East of England, when it opens in 2026. Professor Khanduja (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Mr Brown (Consultant Neurosurgeon), Mr Donnelly (Consultant ENT Surgeon), and Dr. Rolfe (Consultant in Pain Medicine) provide an insight into what the new facility will have to offer.

Doppler ultrasound can provide a cost-effective tool in ensuring verification of vascular blood flow during vascular surgery, enabling surgeons to ‘close with confidence’. So, should the philosophy shift towards physiologic assessment first and imaging second?

In this article, Richard McAuley explores how digital innovations in operating theatres are reshaping the future of healthcare, by striving to achieve energy efficiencies, improved patient outcomes, and enhanced sustainability.

Sophie Spencer and Beth Greenhough discuss how transitioning to reusable surgical instruments, through a managed equipment service, can dramatically reduce theatres’ environmental impact. They consider how hospitals can embrace ‘Design for Life’ principles and circular economy thinking.

Miss Tamsyn Grey, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, Clinical Lead for Robotic Surgery, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, gives a surgeon’s perspective on the contribution that robotic-assisted surgery can have in tackling the backlog.

Richard McAuley looks at the critical role of operating tables in supporting surgical workflows and discusses some of the key trends and innovations that are helping to advance surgical approaches, improve patient safety and integrate with advanced technologies.

The AfPP urged theatre teams to sign up to a ‘behaviours charter’ at its annual conference, highlighting the impact of incivility on patient safety. CSJ reports on the hot topics discussed at the event – from fostering a safety culture in perioperative practice, to human factors learning.

In collaboration, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions installed facilities, referred to as a ‘mini-hospital’ by Health Board staff, in record time – just six weeks for a dual-procedure endoscopy complex and nine weeks for a four-theatre, two-ward surgical suite.

The Operating Theatres Show 2025 is taking place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Thursday, 11 September 2025. CSJ provides an overview of the hot topics being explored at the event.

In the wake of elective surgery backlogs and workforce shortages, the imperative to optimise theatre operations has never been more urgent. To overcome systemic inefficiencies, Dries Vanbiervliet argues that healthcare providers must adopt digital tools that enable real-time visibility across theatre, endoscopy, and sterile services.

The Fifth Annual Operating Theatres Show 2025 took place earlier this year at the Kia Oval. Organised by the Institute for Government & Public Policy, high on the agenda was the need to ‘think day case first’, to further the recovery of elective surgery.

A new survey by the Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) has identified continuing gender bias in surgical disciplines. The feedback suggests that women face barriers that men do not. In this article, the surgical trade union comments on the latest findings and calls on the surgical community to take action.

Operating rooms (ORs) are among the most vital and resource-intensive areas of any hospital. They are central to surgical care and a major driver of hospital productivity.¹ Yet, despite their critical role, ORs are often hindered by inefficiencies that compromise patient outcomes, strain staff wellbeing, and reduce overall operational effectiveness.² A recent pan-European report, The Non-Value Report, sheds light on these challenges and offers a practical framework for improvement. Mikael Olsson provides an insight.

In this article, Minija Joseph and colleagues at the King’s College NHS Foundation Trust discuss the critical role of theatre nurses and anaesthetic practitioners in robot-assisted surgery.

The AfPP Robotics Symposium was recently held at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which has achieved some impressive milestones and advances in robotic surgery in recent years. Leading experts gathered at the centre to discuss the challenges and opportunities in this pioneering field. Louise Frampton reports.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS looks at the latest surgical trends – from robots and artificial intelligence to 3D printing and virtual reality. She considers the steps that theatre teams need to take to ensure safe implementation of new technologies.