A PROJECT to improve the management and use of operating theatres in Gwent hospitals is delivering more treatments and safer services for patients.

The Transforming Theatres Programme (TTP) is being run throughout Wales and England as a means to make maximum use of operating theatres and surgery sessions, while ensuring that the way they are run does not compromise patient safety.

An orthopaedic theatre at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, and urology theatres at the Royal Gwent Hospital have been used as showcase theatres for the programme, which emphasises issues such as improved communication and planning, greater efficiency, and a better theatre environment.

This has involved a range of measures including more surgical briefings for team members, improvements in pain control, and better management of theatre stocks and stores which has in turn led to cleaner, less cluttered theatres and theatre corridors.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board has now adopted a further 19-point action plan, and is introducing TTP methods into its remaining orthopaedic theatres at the Royal Gwent, Nevill Hall and St Woolos Hospitals. By 2013, 30 theatres will be run using the principles of TTP.

Striving to make full use of operating theatre sessions has been an aim for some time, and further work will be done to ensure the mix of planned treatments allows for maximum use of operating sessions.

Among other key action plan targets are a review of a pilot project to extend opening hours at the Royal Gwent's day surgery unit, and a look at relocating dermatology day case treatments to St Woolos Hospital.

The approach to transforming theatres in Gwent has been praised by NLIAH, the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, as leading the way in Wales.