The Operating Theatres Conference 2024 Round Up
Salford Professional Development's 9th annual Operating Theatres Conference took place on Thursday, February 8th, 2024, at the AJ Bell Stadium. The annual event was met with widespread acclaim from attendees, exhibitors, and speakers alike, with AJ Bell stadium providing the perfect setting for the leading Operating Theatres conference in the North West.
The conference was abuzz with an array of exhibitors eager to network and showcase their products to attendees. Incision, one of the exhibitors, shared their enthusiasm for the event, stating, "Our core target market is the theatre practitioners, so events like this are extremely pertinent to us. Having the opportunity to speak and convey our message to the entire audience has been incredibly beneficial." Innovia Medical, another exhibitor, also expressed their appreciation for the event, remarking, "It's been fantastic. I've potentially had more leads this morning than in the past two events I’ve done."
Attendees were treated to insightful presentations from industry experts, including:
- Mark Rigby, Head of Theatre Services, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bhuvana Bibleraaj, Professor of Nursing/Surgical Practice, The University of Salford
- Ajay Sooknah, Head of Operations for Surgery, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
- Helen Lowes, National AHP Education & Training Lead for Operating Department Practitioners, NHS England
- Nigel Roberts, Head Theatre Practitioner (Head of Nursing), Birmingham Women’s and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Neil Holland, UK Sales Director, Incision
- Pauline Harrington, National SSI Surveillance Manager, UK Health Security Agency
- Numan Shah, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Salford Royal NHS Foundation
- Wei Yao, Professor in Robotics, North of England Innovation Centre (NERIC)
- Janet Smith, Head of Sustainability, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- Meenu Netke, Consultant Anesthetist, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- Ruth Robertson, Senior Fellow in Health policy, The King's Fund
- Nikki Stroud, Sustainability SIG Lead, AFPP
Topics ranged from qualitative research results on the W.H.O surgical safety checklist and SSI surveillance in England, to improving patient outcomes following surgery through surveillance. Ajay Sooknah, who spoke on "Improving Operating Theatre Efficiency through Innovative Project Management" commented, "I had the opportunity to discuss robotic assistance surgery, a significant business case I’m trying to implement in my hospital. Coming here to learn from others’ mistakes has better prepared me for this endeavour."
Delegates also learned about the successful reduction of surgical backlogs through surgical hubs and efficient operating theatre practices, as well as the NHS's progress against a 3-year plan to combat long waiting lists. Additionally, they explored the impact of Human Factors on the Surgical Safety Checklist delivery, gained insights into innovative project management techniques for process simplification and improvement delivery, and evaluated the effectiveness and succession of an operating theatre green initiative plan. Attendees were provided with insights into the role of sustainability pillars within operating theatres and how robotics and innovative technology are reshaping surgery. The conference also provided practical tools and insights to foster a supportive and nurturing environment for staff wellbeing within the operating theatre.
In addition to the conference sessions, the day offered numerous networking opportunities for delegates to share ideas and engage with colleagues and other healthcare professionals. Delegates had travelled from all over to be with us at the at AJ Bell Stadium, with a delegate who travelled from Kent saying ‘it's been a delight to come for the conference it's very educational and informative’.
The event was made possible by the support of exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, delegates, and the dedicated team at SPD. As a testament to its success, Salford Professional Development is thrilled to announce that the Operating Theatres Conference will return on February 6th, 2025, for its 10th annual event, marking a decade of innovative discoveries in the field. Register now to stay updated on the latest developments and to secure your spot at next year's conference!
