Published: July 2016. Minor revisions: March 2022. Next review: 2024.
Predictable surgery uses key strategies to improve the delivery of surgical services in NSW.
Planned. Local health districts must plan booked (elective) surgical activity based on clinical need in advance for each 12-month period.
Resourced. Plans must include a designated budget allocation and ensure staff and resources are in place to deliver a predictable volume of booked (elective) surgery each year.
Extended day only. A variant of day stay surgery is the 23-hour, extended day only model.
Driven by protocol. The majority of surgical patients can be managed according to a care protocol. Protocols are used to inform, direct and record the patient’s clinical pathway, admission, discharge and post discharge management.
Insulated beds. Plan bed management to protect access to elective surgical beds.
Cultural change in the delivery of surgical services. For example, patients should be offered to have their procedure performed by another surgeon if this reduces their waiting time. This may entail the use of pooled waiting lists or changing where the list will be undertaken.
Training and workforce. Address issues relating to training and workforce. Include actions specifically relating to training and workforce in your surgical service plans.
Assessment of surgical resources. Assess your surgical resources and address any deficiencies (for example, workforce and equipment) in your surgical services plans.
Best practice in the delivery of surgical services. Surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and other staff involved in the delivery of surgical services ensure best practice in the delivery of surgical services. For example, implementation of ‘time out’ for patient safety, improved efficiency in operating theatres, improved management of waiting lists and optimal pre-procedure preparation.
Emergency. Plan sessions and dedicate adequate resources for emergency surgery to ensure reasonably predictable working conditions for staff and minimise cancellations of surgery.