An audit of the effect of a 24-hour emergency operating theatre in a district general hospital.

The recent introduction of a 24-hour emergency theatre for General Surgery provided an opportunity to audit its effect on emergency operating in a District General Hospital. Prior to its introduction much of the emergency operating was determined by theatre availability rather than clinical need. Half of the emergency operations were carried out between 10 pm and 8 am. This proportion was reduced to a third when a theatre was continually available. This had benefits for the patients in reducing their waiting time and also for the junior surgeons by increasing their sleep. A survey of the Region indicated that very few hospitals provided adequate emergency theatre facilities.