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Surgery: Working Hours

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 10 February 2026UIN 109999

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to maximise the amount of time surgeons spend in theatre.

Answered by Karin Smyth

The Government is taking steps to maximise the amount of time surgeons spend in theatre so they can get through theatre lists more quickly. This includes providing additional capacity via surgical hubs to get through high volume, low complexity lists, and by other productivity measures to free up clinicians’ time to spend in theatres.

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