Gynaecological day surgery at an area hospital 1983-1987.

An eight bedded self-contained day unit for minor gynaecological surgery was opened in November 1982 at Craigavon Area Hospital. In the five years from 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1987, 2091 minor procedures have been performed in the unit, or 32.85% of the total gynaecological operations. The waiting time from consultation until admission for minor surgery was reduced from 2-3 months in 1983 to 2-3 weeks in 1987 and major surgery from 5-6 months to 1-2 months. Allied to this improvement in patient service has been an increase in the in-patient major surgery operation rate, resulting in 100 extra major operations per year. Although costs of treatment in the day procedure unit were lower than the average cost for a 24 hour in-patient stay, the cost per patient is dependent upon the total patient throughput of the unit and the number of days it is used. Complication rates (ie transfer to in-patient facilities for complications of surgery or anaesthesia) are low at 1.85%.