The effect of a dedicated emergency theatre facility on emergency operating patterns.

Following the introduction of a dedicated 24-hour emergency theatre facility in a 500-bed district general hospital, the total amount of emergency general surgery performed after 22.00 hours has been reduced from 37.2 to 13.1%, with a concomitant increase in emergency day-time operating from 22.1 to 51.2%. The majority of the workload was previously performed by the junior grades, and this has remained unchanged. Operative experience has not been diminished with the reduction in night-time surgery, and senior supervision has been enhanced. There has been no significant difference in mortality or morbidity with the changes in operating patterns. Utilization of the theatre staff and time during the night has been improved.