Background
Sheffield Children’s Hospital sought to improve theatre utilisation and outpatient appointment efficiency as part of a wider drive to increase income and improve patient access. A key concern was inconsistent slot filling and underused theatre time, which limited throughput and revenue.
Analysis
A comprehensive review by Meridian highlighted fragmented theatre scheduling, inefficient appointment booking, and limited performance monitoring. Capacity was often underused due to poor planning and a lack of clear accountability for slot optimisation.
Implementation
Meridian implemented structured management controls and forecasting tools to support smarter appointment booking and better alignment between demand and available capacity. Dashboards were developed to monitor performance, and weekly planning meetings helped realign staff behaviour and focus on short-term delivery.
Results
The initiative led to a £6.59M annualised increase in revenue. Improved theatre use and optimised outpatient appointment booking boosted throughput and reduced gaps. The hospital is now equipped with tools and systems to sustain performance and respond proactively to demand fluctuations.
