Theatre efficiency
1. Predictable starts 2. Prepared patients 3. Standardised systems 4. Effective turnarounds 5. A strong team culture
He pointed out that late starts de-stabilise entire lists and common causes include staffing, equipment and patient flow. AI can predict ‘high- risk lists’, shifting from a reactive to a proactive management approach. “Late starts can be stabilised entirely, so why don’t we utilise AI, in terms of data sets, to look at which patients are high risk, and which are not?” he questioned. Nevertheless, he added that a human must ultimately guard and protect the tools, enter the data, and make the final checks and balances.
Key studies on AI in theatres He highlighted some key studies that have looked at the use of AI in operating theatre management. Bellini et al ’s systematic review, for example, emphasised the significant impact of AI on predicting surgical case durations, optimising post-anaesthesia care unit resource allocation, and detecting surgical case cancellations.1 AI can also have a significant role in pre- assessment pathways, though risk stratification systems for cancellation predictions – enabling early intervention and preventing wasted theatre time. There are several risk application models used in hip and knee surgery, as well as cardiac surgery, which utilise AI. For example, a study by Woodward et al
concluded that AI risk prediction was comparable to consultant-led care in risk stratification and could support more streamlined and efficient pre-operative risk stratification for high volume, low complexity hubs and ambulatory surgery centres. The researchers concluded that the technology has the potential to reduce the burden on pre-operative assessment teams and
Ultimately, data challenges unnecessary variation due to preference. RFID is already being used to read instrument
trays, look at what instruments are required for what procedure, in terms of sterilisation, and assist decision making on what is necessary within the tray.
Prometheus giving fire to humans. Is humanity holding a new kind of ‘fire’ in AI?
optimise resource allocation.2 Dr. Mukherjee highlighted the fact that the
10-Year NHS Plan aims to move to increasing digitalisation: “We all have our views on it, good or bad. We all feel somewhat threatened by it, somewhat bewildered by it, and somewhat fed up with it, at times. But how can we better utilise it? If we don’t have these conversations now, responsibly – with ourselves and within our networks – we will never get to the stage of utilising it properly,” he asserted. He pointed out that AI has strengths with
regards to speed and scale, pattern recognition, predictive modelling, and it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But we also have strengths as humans – of innovation, creativity, judgement, conscience, emotion, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. “We have context and meaning to what we do, and that’s what needs to be fed back within this machinery – so, we have to utilise it properly,” he commented. Standardisation also needs to be promoted,
as variation increases time and stress. In terms of standardising theatre trays and workflows, AI can analyse trays and implant selections.
Reducing overruns and underutilisation Moving on to smarter scheduling with AI, he pointed out that there is also potential to predict duration by patient, surgeon and complexity – reducing overruns and underutilisation. “We want to improve the final case completion
rates. Traditional theatre scheduling is built on averages and optimism, and reality is built on variables that we can’t control. But we can utilise AI to try and predict and give us answers for better utilisation,” Dr. Mukherjee continued. “For turnaround optimisation, we have
real-time patient tracking. We have automated alerts for delays, and we can create data driven bottleneck identification. We can identify areas or points where we can better utilise theatre efficiency.”
Other benefits of AI include workflow phase
recognition, decision support augmentation, and reduction of cognitive load. Technology could also have the potential to reduce error rates.
Robotics Current applications include surgical robotics, which has seen a rapid uptake in theatres across the UK in recent years. Around 95% of robotic prostatectomies are now performed using robotics and it has become the standard of care. Robot-assisted surgery improves precision and control, reduces tremors and supports minimally invasive surgery. However, Dr. Mukherjee emphasised that humans are ultimately guiding the robot – therefore, the understanding that underpins the surgery is crucial – especially when things go wrong. “That’s when our understanding and awareness and judgement comes in. The robot cannot do this for us,” he commented. The technology requires workforce training and understanding, which takes time, but “we are adapting it every single day”, he added. The roll out of da Vinci systems and
other robotic platforms is increasing, with a succession of variations being released with new features and advances. Recovery times are becoming faster with smaller incisions and greater precision – making day case surgery possible for a variety of procedures. “Time isn’t everything, however. You must
have an element of quality. But the number of cases that are coming through our doors
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I July 2026
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