How can operating theatres deliver safer, faster and more sustainable surgical care while facing rising demand, workforce shortages and continued pressure on NHS productivity? 

Across the NHS, operating theatres remain central to tackling the elective recovery challenge. NHS England’s 2025 Theatres, Surgery and Perioperative Care Improvement Guide highlights theatre efficiency, digital visibility, workforce optimisation and day-case expansion as critical priorities for reducing waiting lists and improving patient outcomes. Meanwhile, NHS teams delivered record treatment activity in 2024, with more than 7 million patients still waiting for care across England. National policy continues to prioritise surgical hubs, perioperative transformation, enhanced recovery pathways and smarter use of digital technologies to increase productivity within existing resources.  

However, significant challenges remain. Trusts continue to face theatre staffing shortages, growing operational pressures, equipment constraints and rising expectations around sustainability and patient safety. Delayed starts, cancellations, inefficient patient flow and limited theatre capacity continue to impact elective recovery efforts. Workforce retention, training opportunities and balancing productivity with quality care are also becoming increasingly urgent concerns across perioperative services.  

The Institute of Government & Public Policy’s Operating Theatres Show 2027 returns to Manchester in September 2027. This event will bring together NHS leaders, surgeons, theatre managers, ODPs, clinicians and industry experts to explore the future of perioperative care. This not-to-be-missed event will showcase innovative solutions, share best practice and support healthcare organisations in delivering safer, smarter and more efficient surgical services for the future NHS. 

Join the Institute of Government & Public Policy for the annual Operating Theatres Show 2027, 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.