Theatre used in bid to cut surgery list

One of the three theatres at Wairarapa Hospital, Theatre 3, will be fitted out for urgent and acute surgeries.

People waiting for elective surgery may face a shorter wait time once Wairarapa Hospital frees up one of its theatres.

One of the three theatres at the hospital, Theatre 3, which is currently used on a part-time basis for endoscopies, will be fitted out for urgent, acute surgeries.

"Over the last year, we have been looking at how to make best use of our resources," said Pete Chandler, chief operating officer, Wairarapa and Hutt Valley District Health boards.

"We are in the process of providing some new equipment for this theatre, so it can also be used for acute surgery.

"This will relieve pressure on the other two theatres, with fewer elective sessions being postponed to accommodate urgent acute surgery."

Mr Chandler said it was likely to help reduce waiting times with fewer delays and disruptions to elective surgery.

It would also help increase the volume of surgery done at the hospital.

During the year to date, there were 58 occasions when patients needing acute surgery impacted on the waiting list for patients needing elective surgery.

The Wairarapa DHB had a four-month maximum waiting time target for elective surgeries and about 50 patients had been waiting more than four months, Mr Chandler said.

"By the end of December, we need that down to zero," he said.

He said it would be the first time the DHB would be able to meet the target.

"It's quite exciting."