Theatres Transformation Project

HEIW led on a national improvement project between 2024 and 2026 to support improvements in workforce planning, education, data quality and professional development opportunities for the perioperative workforce across NHS Wales.

The project outcomes are expected to support increased theatre utilisation in Wales, which should help to reduce waiting times and improve outcomes for patients.

Project outcomes:

• An improved understanding and detailed analysis of the perioperative workforce in Wales highlighted the diverse range of roles across theatre services, promoting more flexible, efficient and sustainable workforce models. For theatre professionals, improved workforce models will help manage workloads more effectively, reduce stress and support career development within teams, ultimately contributing to more resilient and efficient theatre services.
   
• Perioperative workforce data has been strengthened through identification of inconsistencies and the provision of recommendations to improve workforce intelligence. These enhanced insights will enable theatre leaders and workforce planners to make informed decisions on staffing, scheduling and service delivery, ensuring that teams are appropriately resourced and patients receive timely and safe care.
   
• Education and training provision across Wales has been comprehensively mapped, uncovering gaps and highlighting opportunities to strengthen career development pathways. An education and training gap analysis and options appraisal has been completed to guide long-term solutions, to contribute to safer practice and improved patient outcomes.
   
• The project also delivered tailored professional development initiatives, including bespoke leadership training and access to online learning resources. These opportunities help equip theatre staff to lead teams effectively and respond to service pressures with increased confidence. New IT equipment has also been rolled out across NHS Wales health boards to enable work-based learning.

To ensure the project’s impact continues beyond its completion, two key resources are in development to provide additional support for the perioperative workforce. Launching in 2026, these are:

• A Perioperative Workforce Report, which will summarise national workforce findings and highlight the range of roles that underpin theatre services across Wales.
• An interactive Perioperative Workforce Guide, which will provide practical information, case studies, career frameworks, workforce models and resources to support workforce planning, service transformation and education within theatre settings in Wales.

HEIW would like to thank all those who collaborated and supported the project team over the last two years. This includes a wide range of stakeholders within and external to Wales, including theatre leads, practice educators, workforce planners and business intelligence colleagues.