Case Study
Go Back-
Case Study > Theatre Estate Utilisation Business Case: Hillingdon Hospitals NHS FT
Theatre Estate Utilisation Business Case: Hillingdon Hospitals NHS FT
Four Eyes Insight recently undertook a four-week programme with The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to support delivering a business case focused on maximising theatre estate utilisation. At the end of the programme, FEI delivered a business case with a net income range of £1,275,714 to £1,825,760.
After undertaking an analysis of the Trust’s theatre estate utilisation, FEI revealed that a notable 18% of the theatre estate is vacant during core hours (per annum and after the removal of bank holidays, audits, and strikes).
The outcome of the analysis presented a significant opportunity to increase the volume of patients able to be treated through the existing estate by targeting fallow sessions that are dropped mainly due to a lack of annual leave cover for the clinical workforce. While acknowledging the challenges associated with regular backfill of dropped theatre sessions, the gains are significant—the ability to accommodate over 1,500 patients annually.
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust enlisted the support of FEI to provide theatres expertise and practical capacity to develop a robust business case that outlines the cost and benefits of delivering this invest-to-save opportunity.
Our delivery approach to creating the theatre estate utilisation business case
Drawing on extensive experience within theatres, FEI conducted rigorous scenario modelling to identify a suitable opportunity to target, which considered the following that would result from reducing the lost capacity in theatre estates:
- Activity expectations
- Bed requirements
- Staffing projections
- Financial implications
Throughout the four-week period, FEI collaborated closely with operational and financial teams to ensure the accuracy of analysis and viability of implementing solutions before crafting the final business case.
Our approach enabled informed decision-making and culminated in the agreement of the recommended option, positioning THH for improved patient outcomes and enhanced financial resilience.
Results
In line with the objective of the programme, FEI delivered a theatre estate utilisation business case with a net income range of £1,275,714–£1,825,760.
The robust business case was agreed upon by core stakeholders and has the ability to achieve the following benefits:
- 80% of the total opportunity that was identified
- 614 additional sessions per year through the existing theatre estate
- 1681 additional patients able to be seen based on the average case per session
- Inpatient >52-week waits eliminated within 11 weeks
To learn more about how we can support your organisation, contact us today.