Wasteful NHS could do 280k extra ops

HOSPITALS could perform an extra 280,000 operations a year if they managed their time better, a study suggests.

Poor planning sees surgeons start late and finish early, meaning operating theatres are wasting two hours a day on average, according to the NHS watchdog analysis.

A third of theatres start at least half an hour late and finish half an hour early, NHS Improvement estimated. With better time management, hospitals could have carried out an extra 280,000 procedures in 2016 – saving the NHS £130million. This would have included 58,000 orthopaedic operations, such as hip and knee replacements, and 41,000 eye surgeries.

The analysis of 100 hospitals comes as waiting lists are at their longest in a decade, with approximately 4million needing operations.

NHS bosses are pleading with the Government for more money due to rising demand.

John Kell of The Patients Association warned a lack of beds stopped more operations being done and hospitals may not be able to afford to do more even if planning was more efficient.