Surgical hubs to reduce waiting lists

With long waiting lists in the NHS, the UK needs innovation to tackle a backlog of surgical cases.1 One solution is surgical hubs2—networks of protected beds and staff for provision of high volume, low complexity elective surgery. Any high turnover, low complexity surgery can be supported—from minor keyhole operations such as for endometriosis, through to elective joint replacements and hernia repairs.

Surgical hubs are a key component of the UK government’s pledge to reduce waiting lists in 2025.3 Ninety hubs already exist across NHS England, and a further 40 are planned over the next three years.2 To qualify as a surgical hub a centre must perform planned surgery exclusively, ringfence staff and facilities, and operate 48 weeks of the year, six days a week, and at 85% theatre utilisation.2

Using hubs separates workstreams, in theory enabling scheduled care to continue unimpeded by unscheduled demands such as increased emergency admissions because of seasonal viruses or extreme weather.5 The impact of …