The Anaesthetist and Theatre Planning

In new theatre suites the clean corridor is separated from the hospital by rooms where staff and patients must change into garments and coverings reserved for theatre use, and a pre-operative ward is not considered to be in the best interests of the patient.

Abstract

Summary In new theatre suites the clean corridor is separated from the hospital by rooms where staff and patients must change into garments and coverings reserved for theatre use. The disturbance and anguish caused to patients is undesirable and can be avoided if anaesthesia is induced before the patient enters the clean corridor; there are several advantages in siting the anaesthetic rooms between the hospital and clean corridors and the recovery room should be similarly positioned. A pre-operative ward is not considered to be in the best interests of the patient. In the theatres themselves high level windows are advocated. A plan for a suite of six theatres and a recovery and special nursing wards is discussed.