Peter Kay, National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal Services, NHS England

Michelle Russell, Consultant Gynaecologist, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Rachel O’Donnell, Gynaecologist, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Join our expert panel as they explore innovative strategies to reform elective surgical care, focusing on reducing waiting times, improving access, and placing patient experience at the heart of service delivery. This session will highlight best practice, system-wide collaboration, and data-driven approaches to deliver more efficient and responsive elective care across the NHS.

• WLI sessions vs insourcing – exploring the most cost-effective ways to maximise theatre utilisation
• Protecting ‘job planned’ sessions with extra capacity during the week
• How insourcing services should be structured to optimise impact on RTT performance  

Dan Pearce, National Deputy Director of Implementation, GIRFT

Emma McCone, National POA Advisor, GIRFT

• Understand the Impact of Pre- and Post-Surgical Processes on Theatre Productivity
• Enhance Collaboration Across Surgical and Perioperative Pathways
• Implement Data-Driven Strategies to Improve Theatre Efficiency
• Foster Clinical and Executive Leadership for Productivity Gains

This session explores how effective teamwork and mutual respect, underpinned by a functional and recognised hierarchy, are essential to safe, coordinated, and high-quality surgical care. 

• Describe the contributions and interdependencies of multidisciplinary team members in enhancing the efficiency and safety of surgical pathways
• Apply key strategies for effective communication and coordinated teamwork within the operating theatre environment
• Evaluate the role of structured hierarchy in supporting safe, timely, and accountable decision-making during surgical procedures

• Explore the evolving roles of Operating Department Practitioners across perioperative and critical care settings

• Examine strategies for workforce transformation, including the integration of ODPs into multidisciplinary teams and their involvement in critical care

• Discuss the importance of leadership and professional development in empowering ODPs to take on expanded roles

Angela Hayes, Nurse Fellow & Project Lead, The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

Cliff Shelton, Professor in Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Lancaster University

• Understand the key principles of the Green Theatre Checklist and how they contribute to reducing the environmental impact of surgical practice
• Identify practical strategies to implement sustainable changes in operating theatres, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable procurement
• Explore the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in embedding environmentally sustainable practices within perioperative care

• Understand the barriers to theatre access for surgical trainees
• Identify strategies to improve surgical training opportunities
• Evaluate the impact of policy and workforce planning on surgical education

John Jeans, Practicing Consultant Anaesthetist and National Lead, the National CLEAR Programme, 33n

Yat Li, Chief Clinical Information Officer, Consultant Anaesthetist, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

• The basics of AI, the “hype” demystified, and its real-world potential in elective care

• How AI enhances productivity, staff, and patient satisfaction while addressing governance and safety challenges

• Key learnings and case studies from NHS implementations to maximise AI benefits

• A look ahead at the transformative future of AI in healthcare