
Internal Reference Number: FOI_9382
Date Request Received: 05/05/2026 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 26/05/2026 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Urology Theatre Productivity and Adult Male Circumcision
Request Category: Private Individuals
| Question Number 1: FOI Request – Urology Theatre Productivity and Adult Male Circumcision I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding urology surgical productivity at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½. In light of the recent NHS England South West report (Feb 2026) regarding the million-operation milestone driven by productivity gains, and the Trust’s own urology backlog of 2,500+ patients, please provide the following for the 2025/26 period: Adoption of Innovations Does the Trust currently utilize stapler-assisted devices (e.g., ZSR/CircCurer) for adult therapeutic circumcision? | |
| Answer To Question 1: No. | |
| Question Number 2: Has the Trust’s surgical productivity team formally evaluated this technology to support the regional goal of maximizing elective throughput? | |
| Answer To Question 2: No as we don’t have a Surgical Productivity Team. | |
| Question Number 3: Theatre Productivity What is the average "Entry to Exit" theatre time currently allocated for an adult circumcision performed via traditional suture methods? | |
| Answer To Question 3: 48 minutes | |
| Question Number 4: What percentage of these procedures are performed under Local Anaesthetic (LA) in an outpatient setting (e.g., the Urology Centre, Level 3 SDH North), versus General Anaesthetic (GA) in a main theatre suite? | |
| Answer To Question 4: 100% in a main theatre suite under GA | |
| Question Number 5: Waiting List Performance What is the current median waiting time (in weeks) for an adult medically indicated circumcision from "Decision to Treat"? | |
| Answer To Question 5: Current median waiting time is 24.1 weeks. | |
| Question Number 6: How many patients are currently on the urology elective list for this specific procedure? | |
| Answer To Question 6: At the end of April there are 62 patients waiting for circumcision. | |
| Question Number 7: Efficiency Metrics Has the Trust calculated the potential theatre capacity gains if routine adult circumcisions were moved from General Anaesthetic to a 10-minute Local Anaesthetic stapler-assisted model? | |
| Answer To Question 7: No. | |
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Our staff at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.