Theatre utilisation below target despite 2,600 operations delivered, figures show

Health minister says 968 sessions carried out since April 2025, with average utilisation of 80.6 percent against 85 percent target

The Health and Social Care Minister has confirmed that 968 theatre sessions were delivered between 1 April 2025, and 31 January 2026, during which 2,600 operations were performed.

In a written response to a question from Onchan MHK Julie Edge, Claire Christian set out monthly data covering theatre activity, utilisation rates and operational performance.

According to figures provided by Manx Care, the 968 four-hour theatre sessions resulted in an average of 2.7 operations per session. Of the 2,600 total procedures, 10 were emergency operations carried out within elective lists.

However, utilisation of elective theatre time remained below the Mandate target of 85 percent throughout the 10-month reporting period. Monthly utilisation ranged from 76.2 percent in January 2026 to 84.6 percent in September 2025, with an overall average of 80.6 percent.

The Mandate - which is issued by the Department of Health and Social Care - defines utilisation as the proportion of time within a scheduled four-hour theatre list during which an operation is actively taking place. Delays or early finishes can reduce that percentage - for example, a 30-minute delay on a four-hour list would reduce utilisation by 25 percent.

The data shows activity peaked in July 2025, when 354 elective operations were undertaken. The highest number of sessions overall was recorded in October at 113, while the lowest monthly total was 73 in May.

Utilisation trended downward from September 2025 through to January 2026. The minister attributes this to a combination of increased patient and hospital cancellations, as well as seasonal pressures over the Christmas and New Year period, when theatres traditionally prioritise emergency and clinically urgent cases.

The response outlines several factors contributing to underutilisation, including theatre lists ending early where surgical teams have not fully booked available time, last-minute patient cancellations due to illness, and hospital-initiated cancellations linked to bed pressures, staffing availability or equipment issues.

Ms Christian claims all theatre lists are reviewed at least two weeks in advance and discussed at weekly planning meetings to identify potential gaps. She says where possible, surgical teams are asked to add further cases to maximise use of available time.

Additionally, she points to the recent launch of the Elective Surgical Unit and recruitment into theatre, surgery and anaesthesia as measures intended to reduce hospital-initiated cancellations.