Southland Hospital is one of seven sites selected to participate in a new programme to improve the productivity of operating theatres.
Speaking about the Productive Operating Theatre programme on Friday in the Bay of Plenty, Health Minister Tony Ryall said it would encourage staff to identify problems and find ways of solving them.
Theatre staff were often frustrated by delays in starting the day's surgical list, and delays in preparing patients. Such delays often meant less productivity, with operations being cancelled, Mr Ryall said.
Southland Hospital's chief operating officer, Lexie O'Shea, said planning for the programme was at the preliminary stage and it was not expected to begin until next year.
Among the tasks to be completed were staff identifying areas to concentrate on.
Three years ago, the hospital had looked at its theatre efficiency through a programme called Theatre Compass and this would extend what had been learned through that.
One of the advantages of taking part in a programme involving other hospitals was that all could learn from each other.
Mr Ryall said a similar National Health Service programme in the United Kingdom suggested productivity improvements could be made in a several areas.
These included improving starting times and turnaround, reducing time wasted on searching for equipment, improving rates of pain control in recovery, and an improved safety culture.
Theatre staff reported fewer cancelled operations, up to 25% reduction in start time delays, up to 60% faster turnaround between each operation, and significantly improved job satisfaction, Mr Ryall said.
