Day Zero and Beyond (Thoracic Surgery)

13:30 – 14:45

This session explores how a redesigned thoracic surgery pathway has enabled around 80% of patients to be admitted directly to the ward on the day of surgery, rather than routinely receiving post-operative critical care. Using audit data, risk stratification and multidisciplinary collaboration, the team developed a safe, clinically led approach that supports enhanced recovery, early mobilisation and person-centred care. The session will share lessons from implementation, including patient education, pathway redesign and safety assurance, and highlight benefits such as reduced HDU utilisation, improved theatre flow, fewer delays and cancellations, and a scalable model for sustainable service improvement.