[Greens-Media] Auditor-General’s operating theatre efficiency will require more resources

[John Kaye]

Auditor-General’s operating theatre efficiency will require more resources

17 July 2013

The public hospital Performance Audit identified important opportunities to improve access to elective surgery but the increased workloads for clinical staff would have long term adverse consequences on the health system, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

(See: 'Managing operating theatre efficiency for elective surgery' Auditor-General's Report to Parliament, 17 July 2013 http://j.mp/ag130717)

Dr Kaye said: "While increasing the efficiency of operating theatre management would relieve the suffering of many people waiting for elective surgery, the Auditor-General admitted that he did not assess the impacts on patient safety, outcomes or staff welfare.

"Increased management efficiency will result in more patients in post-operative care and escalating workloads for nurses. Unless the changes are accompanied by an investment in additional clinical staff and support, nurses and doctors will pay with greater stress levels and more occupational-related illness.

"The Auditor-General has shone a light on the consequences of the O'Farrell government's obsession with cutting so-called back-office staff to pay for more front-line nurses and doctors.

"The real problem identified by the report is the failure to coordinate the operating theatres.

"While some of this can be fixed with better protocols, if Health Minister Jillian Skinner continues to strip out the administrative workers in hospitals, inefficiencies in scheduling and managing operating theatre time will only get worse.

"The O'Farrell government cannot reasonably expect to reform the management of operating theatres while slashing back office staff numbers.

"Health Minister Jillian Skinner is busy hollowing out the positions that allocate theatre times and personnel. She is denying the state's public hospitals the support they need to improve performance and reduce elective surgery waiting lists," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:  John Kaye 0407 195 455


Background – Key quotes from the report

Key quotes from report:

The target for operating theatre utilisation of 80 per cent is not being met overall. (page 17)

We estimate that by increasing utilisation by the five per cent would equate to over 20,000 additional patients being treated each year. (page 17)

The audit focused on efficiency and the management of theatre time, costs and staff to undertake as many elective procedures as possible using the existing levels of resources, or doing a set amount of procedures with a minimum amount of resources. We also acknowledge that other matters such as patient safety, clinical outcomes and equity must be balanced to achieve quality patient care, although these were not a primary focus of the audit. Such factors are important to the effectiveness of surgery and can place constraints on achieving efficiency. (page 14) [Emphasis added]


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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

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Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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