An audit of the use of ophthalmic theatre time.

Several barriers limit the access of blind people to cataract surgery. These barriers can be patient or provider related. Provider related factors could be overcome by improving the efficiency with which human and material resources are used. One of the major barriers to the uptake of cataract surgery in developing countries is the cost to the patient of surgery. This includes the cost of transportation for a number of clinic visits, food for the patient, a guide or carer, and the actual cost of surgery. This has reduced the number of cataract operations performed. The cost of consumables increases with the number of operations performed. However, the operational cost remains fixed whether one procedure or more are performed. Improving the efficiency with which human and material resources are utilised is expected to result in an increase in the number of operations performed over a period of time. This will result in a reduction in the unit cost of surgery and the waiting list of operating theatres, as previously described elsewhere. This study assessed how an ophthalmic theatre utilised its resources with a view to increasing efficiency and reducing the unit cost of surgery. It is hoped that this will remove some of the major barriers to the uptake of cataract surgery and encourage other eye units to carry out similar studies.