Transforming Theatre Standardised Operating Theatre Time Stamps Guidelines (Version 002, July 2023)

The Transforming Theatre Standardised Operating Theatre Time Stamps Guidelines (Version 002, July 2023) outlines a national framework to improve operating theatre efficiency through standardised time metrics. Developed by the National Clinical Programmes in Surgery and Anaesthesia, the guideline defines five key time stamps (anaesthetic start, surgery start, surgery finish, anaesthetic finish, and patient exit) to track patient flow. These time points support quality improvement, enable consistent national data collection, and align with the Safe Surgery Checklist. The document also defines associated operational terms (eg  “Possible Time”, “Available Time” and “Utilised Time”), providing a shared language to evaluate theatre performance. Key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from these metrics, such as utilisation rate, overruns, and inter-operative interval, enable targeted quality improvements. Standardisation supports training, performance benchmarking, and operational transparency across hospital groups, ultimately enhancing the safe and efficient use of surgical resources.