The question of the operating department.

Why are there so many reports and studies of operating departments? Lewin, Oxford, National Audit Office and the Bevan Report, all covering much the same thing--organisation, staffing and management of operating departments. Why are there so many investigations regarding the operating theatre? Obviously because of its importance, the capital cost of the buildings and the high nursing expenditure. Why is there so much examination of the staffing of operating departments? Because of staffing difficulties, general everywhere in the nursing profession but, owing to the nature of the work, these are exacerbated in the operating department. There are also senior nurses and general managers who do not understand the need for nurses in the operating department. Again why? Is it because they know little about the complexities of operating department nursing and believe that by putting others in the operating department there will be more nurses available for work on wards and other departments? Who will take over the work in the operating department if nurses move out?