The Northern Health and Social Care Trust plans to implement an action plan at Whiteabbey Hospital by the end of next month to improve theatre efficiency.

Trust board members received a report on theatre performance at the end of February. The report showed performance below target at peripheral hospitals Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster in Magherafelt for operating times and run times. Operating times cover time spent on each patient's procedure. Run times measure total daily theatre use.

At Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, operating times also missed targets. Main theatres achieved 82 per cent utilisation against an 85 per cent target. Day procedures reached 59 per cent against 80 per cent.

Whiteabbey Hospital recorded 63 per cent against an 80 per cent target for day procedures. Mid Ulster Hospital achieved 54 per cent against the same target.

Antrim Hospital met targets for both main theatres and day procedures. Causeway Hospital's main theatres met run-time targets.

Lynne McCartney, interim director for surgery and clinical services, stated that main theatre sites perform well but day procedures and peripheral sites face ongoing challenges. She noted the need to identify patients suitable for peripheral sites, including those available at short notice to fill cancellations.

McCartney said a review of theatre scheduling will assess procedures that can move to peripheral sites. The Trust identified challenges such as finding suitable patients from long waiting lists and scheduling issues at Whiteabbey.

Improvement areas include greater collaboration between gynaecology, breast and general surgery departments to optimise scheduling. The Trust will pilot a patient scheduler role to review long-waiting patients and identify those suitable for peripheral hospitals.

Anne O’Reilly, Trust board chair, said the Trust continues to seek improvements.