Theatres

Theatres CSSD unit
Checking a patient into theatre
  • Situated on the top of North Block
  • 2 large theatres
  • Used 24hrs a day for emergency and elective use
  • Used by the three trauma teams and the Burns surgeons
  • Had two large autoclaves and its own sterilising capability independent of external agencies. Had staff dedicated to washing, checking, packing and sterilising instruments. A small amount of equipment was procured from CSSD based at East Birmingham Hospital
  • Theatres were situated adjacent to the instrument curator’s office and workshop
  • Equipment maintenance, sharpening instruments etc was no problem
  • The theatre suite consisted of two large theatres, two anaesthetic rooms, one reception area for patients and recovery suite, changing rooms, sterilising room and changing rooms. There was a missed office and coffee room
  • The current NCEPOD Regulations regulating theatre usage in the evenings and overnight had not been developed. Essentially immediate life threatening emergencies went straight to theatre.
  • Other cases went to theatre when there was availability. It would not be uncommon to fix a hip or ankle in the evening and overnight by surgical, nursing and support staff who were readily available
  • The size of the theatres were such that if necessary it was possible to have two operating table and patients in theatre at the same time. This happened from time to time when a patient needed to be in theatre, yet both were in use
  • Theatres had excellent support from the x-ray department – historically, using traditional x-rays and wet plate development and latterly using image intensifiers
  • At the time of closure in 1993 the theatres were led by Mrs Cynthia Gore with over 30 staff including nurses, operating department practitioners (ODP’s), nursing auxiliaries and theatre porters

Casualty Theatres

  • Many cases not requiring main theatre were managed in one of the three theatres in Casualty
  • Theatre 1 was a sterile theatre, used for cases such as extensor tendon repairs
  • Theatre 2 was a general theatre, used mainly for suturing
  • Theatre 3 was a plastics theatre, which was used for plastering and manipulation of fractures under regional anaesthesia (Biers Blocks), local blocks (Haematoma Blocks) and from time to time general anaesthesia
  • Abscesses were drained if necessary, under general anaesthesia in theatre 3
  • Besides the three theatres was a store for equipment, two sterilisers and changing rooms
  • Casualty theatres were staffed independent of main theatres