How can the NHS build surgical services fit for the future, driving down waiting times, maximising efficiency, and safeguarding patient care in a pressured system?

Elective recovery remains one of the NHS’s defining challenges. As of early 2026, more than 7.6 million people are waiting for treatment across England, with over 3.2 million awaiting surgical procedures. The NHS Delivery Plan for Recovery of Elective Services and the Long-Term Workforce Plan have set ambitious goals: expanding surgical hubs, embedding sustainable models of care, and harnessing data and technology to unlock productivity. Government commitments to cut waiting lists, deliver Net Zero healthcare, and strengthen multidisciplinary workforce capacity are shaping the next era of surgical services. With perioperative teams at the heart of this transformation, operating theatres must evolve to meet both patient demand and national strategic priorities.

Yet, significant challenges remain. Pressures on workforce retention and morale, unequal access to training, and rising costs of theatre utilisation continue to strain delivery. Variation in productivity across trusts, ongoing debates about insourcing and weekend elective work, and the drive towards greener, Net Zero-aligned theatres add further layers of complexity. Perioperative professionals face the dual challenge of delivering safe, high-quality care while also adapting to structural reforms, digital innovation, and sustainability demands. Without system-wide collaboration and strong leadership, the risk of widening backlogs and workforce burnout grows.

The Institute of Government & Public Policy’s Operating Theatres Show 2026 returns to Manchester in September 2026. This event will bring together clinical leaders, strategic thinkers, operational managers, policymakers, and innovators to tackle these pressing issues head-on. Attendee feedback from last year’s London Shower includes:

“It was my first time attending, and I was impressed with the setup and topics discussed” 

“Speakers delivered with quality and clarity” 

“It was a fantastic and educational day, I will definitely reflect on my practice after the conference”

“Sessions were insightful, well-presented, interesting and thought-provoking” 

Join the Institute of Government & Public Policy for the annual Operating Theatres Show 2026, which will showcase practical solutions to boost theatre capacity and productivity, strengthen and support the perioperative workforce, embed sustainable green theatre practices, and harness the power of digital innovation and AI to transform surgical services in line with national recovery ambitions.