Operating theatres
Transforming NHS operating theatres
Executive Chair of InnoScot Health, Graham Watson offers an insight into the innovation taking place to transform NHS operating theatres for a smarter, more efficient healthcare future.
Smart operating theatre technologies are transforming the way the NHS works, making for more efficient and sustainable approaches which are achieving better patient outcomes and helping to tackle waiting lists. Across NHS Scotland, theatre scheduling breakthroughs are maximising facilities and reducing downtime; environmentally friendly innovations are helping to reduce theatre waste and support ambitious Net Zero targets; while high resolution screens and robotic surgery technologies are supplementing human expertise when it comes to complex, precision-led procedures. Smart theatre technologies are further ensuring that energy usage is optimised and are laying strong foundations for rolling out a leaner, greener health service for generations to come. The NHS must embrace digital tech across its full estate for a more sustainable, joined up future – but the operating theatre is where that can arguably be best harnessed and exemplified in the here and now for both patient and staff gain. Only recently, Scotland’s First Minister, John
Swinney, pledged that “better use of data will ensure that more operating theatres are working at maximum capacity, with best practice approaches shown to increase productivity by 20%, rolled out across the country.” Aligned with that ambition, we have seen a surge of exciting breakthroughs taking place, in recent times, across NHS Scotland, many of them spearheaded by the workforce’s forward-thinkers. Innovation identified by the knowledgeable, insightful Scottish health service workforce can be a huge asset in achieving much- needed progress. Indeed, those who work in operating theatres, and are immersed in the challenges and opportunities inherent in that environment, are best placed to spot where positive differences can be made. Staff can undoubtedly play a vital role by identifying where the integration of smart technologies would be of most benefit.
No wonder then that NHS Scotland is actively 48
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I April 2025
investing in inspired ideas originating from its workforce. Last year, it was announced that clinician-led, cloud-based software from Infix Support (founded by Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr. Matthew Freer, from the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital) had won an NHS Scotland contract to optimise operating theatre efficiency following a competitive procurement process. Backed by five years’ worth of NHS operating times data, the development of a more intuitive system for operating theatre optimisation is considered to be a game- changer, and Infix: Schedule is now being rolled out across Scottish health boards. It is a timely step, with NHS staff continuing to
face challenges in reducing surgical operating lists, amid a clear need to significantly increase efficiency. Infix: Schedule aims to improve the health of patients who can be operated on sooner, while reducing the morbidity and mortality of those waiting for their surgical treatment.
Infix successfully piloted its Schedule
software across three health boards, starting with NHS Lanarkshire, enabling operating room efficiency to be improved by up to a quarter and the completion of thousands of additional operations. Infix: Schedule’s ability to standardise
scheduling workflows, simplify processes, and reduce unnecessary downtime has meant increased productivity, removal of paper processes, and reduction of administrative burden when applied to the creation and approval of theatre lists. The ethos is straightforward – recognising
that new technology must integrate within existing legacy systems across all health boards, while aiming to change ingrained behaviours in order to optimise existing resource and facilities. Dr. Freer said that Infix had successfully
shown how its “best-of-class technology can have a transformative impact on theatre efficiency” but was most pleased that it “will now be able to ease the pressure for health boards
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