The Productive Operating Theatre programme launched at TDH

23 March 2011

Tairawhiti District Health has launched a new programme aimed at improving patient experience and outcome.

TDH is one of seven DHBs chosen by the Ministry of Health to pilot The Productive Operating Theatre programme, based on a similar initiative run by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.

Six TDH staff attended training with experts from the UK in August 2010 and since that time a number of staff involved in the “theatre journey” have met for two workshops to confirm their vision for the project and commence working on initiatives.

Anaesthetist and project leader Dr Angela Freschini said TDH, in joining the programme, has made a commitment to improving patient’s experience and outcome through increasing safety and reliability of care, improving value and efficiency and optimising team performance and staff wellbeing.

Results from the NHS programme suggested productivity improvements could be made.

Dr Freschini said in the UK, theatre staff reported fewer cancelled operations, reduction in delays, faster turnaround between each operation, and significant improvement in safety.

“This approach will help us provide even more operations with the same resources while improving outcomes for patients,” she said.