Health bulletin
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Two recommendations of NCEPOD were the introduction of dedicated emergency theatres and a higher level of consultant involvement in emergency cases. In May 1998 a dedicated emergency theatre was introduced in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow. At the same time the on-call rota of the Consultant Paediatric Surgeons was changed from days on-call to a period of one week, during which elective commitments were cancelled. ⋯ The provision of a dedicated emergency theatre increased the proportion of emergency cases performed during normal working hours, particularly before 1 pm. Cancelling elective commitments for Consultant Paediatric Surgeons ensured higher levels of consultant input into daytime emergency cases.