Purpose of Post
The engines of the hospital are its 9 operating theatres. Here, the most serious and complex surgical cases are treated.
Role Overview
The primary goal of this role is to constantly review information and data related to factors that influence theatre utilisation. This includes tracking theatre and utilisation, identifying opportunities to improve theatre utilisation and optimising theatre capacity safely.
Duties & Responsibilities
* Capacity Planning and Management: Review theatre slots in advance to identify potential gaps in the schedule and improve allocations of cancelled slots.
* Liaise with Consultants, secretaries and the Central Bookings Office to ensure theatre slots are fully utilised.
* Management of unallocated slots.
* Identify and advertise available sessions when required (medium & short term).
* Develop and oversee theatre schedules to balance patient needs, clinical priorities and resource availability.
* Monitor operating theatre utilisation and identify opportunities to enhance efficiency.
Process Optimisation Support
* Analyse theatre workflows and turnover times to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
* Implement strategies to reduce cancellations, delays and underutilisation.
* Develop and enforce policies for booking, scheduling and prioritising cases.
Communication and Collaboration
Act as the central point of contact for surgical capacity and scheduling issues. Communicate effectively with all stakeholders to manage expectations and provide updates on scheduling changes.
Data Analysis and Reporting
* Track data on theatre utilisation, case duration and scheduling trends.
* Prepare reports and presentations for hospital leadership, highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs) and areas for improvement.
Professional Qualifications, Essential Skills and Knowledge
Bachelor degree in business or related field is desirable. Experience in hospital operations, surgical services or theatre management is also preferred.
Key skills include:
* Proven track record of managing complex schedules and optimising resource utilisation.
* Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities with an administrative background.
* Proficiency in hospital management software (e.g. Meditech or theatre scheduling systems).
* Proficiency in Excel with data analysis and reporting.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse teams.
* Analytical skills for interpreting data and driving performance improvements.
* Attention to detail is essential.