How can the NHS build surgical services fit for the future? 

The UK's surgical landscape is under growing strain. Waiting lists now exceed 7 million patients, with elective backlogs stretching into years. In response, the government's "Plan for Change" pledges to meet the target of treating 92% of patients within 18 weeks, supported by the expansion of surgical hubs and Community Diagnostic Centres. 

Alongside this, the Life Sciences Sector Plan outlines a roadmap to accelerate innovation in NHS settings, promising regulatory reform, streamlined procurement, and enhanced collaboration between healthcare and industry. Yet challenges remain. Clinical teams across specialities face persistent skills gaps in robotics, image-guided techniques, and digital surgery. Data interoperability, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and fragmented health IT systems continue to disrupt integration. Hospitals are also under pressure to increase throughput, reduce length of stay, and minimise complications, all against a backdrop of workforce shortages and escalating costs. 

Building on the success of the Operating Theatres Conferences and Exhibitions in Manchester and London, which brought together clinical leaders, policymakers, and industry to share best practice and explore solutions to theatre productivity and safety, the Institute of Government and Public Policy is proud to launch the Future of Surgery Show 2026, which is taking place in Birmingham.  

Join us at the Future of Surgery Show 2026, where the UK's leading surgeons, policymakers, innovators, and industry partners will come together to rethink surgical services. Explore the latest technologies, share insights with those shaping the operating theatres of tomorrow, and contribute to building a surgical future that is smarter, greener, safer, and more equitable.