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A mobile facility, without compromising the clinical environment For clinicians and patients unfamiliar with mobile facilities, there can be assumptions about how the environment will compare with a conventional operating theatre. The experience at Aztec West challenged those perceptions. Stuart Guthrie, Clinical Director at
Newmedica’s Bristol surgical centres, had not previously worked in a mobile operating theatre and recalls his reaction when he first entered the facility: “It felt like you were in a normal theatre, to be honest – it was better than a lot of theatres that I’ve worked in, in the past.” That quality was not simply about appearance.
The theatre had to provide the space, environmental control and functionality required to support safe surgery at considerable volume. The operating area accommodated the surgical team, microscope and phacoemulsification equipment, while allowing staff and patients to move safely. Temperature and humidity were controlled, and Walsh recalls that the environmental systems performed reliably throughout the deployment, including through significant changes in external weather. The patient journey closely reflected
Newmedica’s established pathway, helping the additional capacity feel like an extension of the existing service rather than a separate experience. Maintaining that consistency was important to Walsh. The design of the facility also supported the
rapid patient flow required for high-volume cataract surgery. Guthrie says: “For us, in cataract surgery,
The Vanguard mobile theatre at Newmedica Bristol Aztec West
easily, while the internal layout supported a straightforward progression through admission, treatment and discharge.
Feeling like the first patient, the 2,929th and final patient of the Vanguard mobile theatre at Newmedica Bristol Aztec West
it’s important for a flow of patients to come through. That’s really important and the unit provided that flow.” Accessibility was equally important. A ramp enabled patients to enter and leave the facility
Layout key
From additional capacity to exceptional throughput Once operational, the additional theatre became part of an intensive surgical programme. Newmedica operated seven days a week and, across its two permanent theatres and the Vanguard, reached 16.5 theatre lists per week. A minimum of around 20 patients could be treated on a theatre list, with activity sometimes increasing to 25 or 30 patients and extending into evening sessions. Operating 7 days per week, the Vanguard theatre saw 600 cataract surgeries in January alone. For Phillips, the scale of the achievement exceeded the original expectation. “I would suggest that the highlight was to be able to run 16-and-a-half theatres a week. That was never the plan, and not many, if any, providers in the country could do that.” But throughput alone is not the most important
measure of success in a surgical service. The programme had to demonstrate that higher activity could be achieved, while maintaining clinical standards and the patient experience. The team was treating patients who, in some cases, had experienced long waits and consequently presented with more advanced cataracts. Walsh says this could make procedures more challenging for surgeons and theatre teams, making the emphasis on preparation and safety particularly important. At the same time, patient feedback remained
The layout of the mobile theatre 8
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I October 2026
extremely positive. Phillips recalls: “The feedback was absolutely
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