ALTERATIONS TO OPERATING LISTS

1. Out-of-hours, the registrar on duty is the Department's representative, not only for clinical duty, but also for administrative matters.

2. Hence, any changes to operating lists, in particular additions and alterations to the order of cases, should be cleared with the anaesthetic registrar on duty or deferred to the next day, when a consultant or senior registrar is on duty.

3. Altered arrangements with respect to the order in which cases are done frequently frustrate attempts by the Department to keep the duration of elective operating lists within reasonable bounds. The operating suite staff has been asked not to accept advice regarding a change in order from anyone other than anaesthetic staff.

4. If you are in any doubt as to whether you should accede to requests for changes in an elective operating list (additional, substitution, change in order, etc.) seek advice from your consultant on duty or from the consultant concerned with the list in question.

5. If an alteration involves the first case in the morning, the operating room charge nurse must be informed.