Flexible modular spaces could be the answer to the UK’s limited access to operating theatres.
A new report by the Royal College of Surgeons of England highlights issues such as insufficient space, staffing shortages, and low bed availability.
In its 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census Report, 53% of surgical consultants identified access as a major challenge, primarily due to limited theatre space (73%), theatre staff availability (59%), and bed availability (47%).
When more than half of surgeons cite limited theatre space as a significant barrier and nearly three-quarters point to a lack of physical capacity, it’s clear that infrastructure is now as important as workforce planning in addressing waiting lists.
One solution is to integrate modular spaces.
A spokesperson for Darwin Group, a leading healthcare estate specialist that creates healthcare environments that ‘move with the moment’, explained: ‘We’re increasingly working with NHS Trusts to support surgical teams by rapidly expanding operating theatre capacity without compromising on quality, safety or clinical standards. On-Demand®’ permanent-grade theatre solutions can help relieve immediate pressure, protect training time, and create the headroom needed for long-term workforce sustainability. Modular design isn’t just fast; it’s flexible, scalable, and built for clinical excellence.’
Advancing the Surgical Workforce: 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census exposes the realities of delivering surgical care in the NHS across the UK.
In a news release, the Royal College of Surgeons of England warned it will be ‘near impossible’ for the NHS in England to meet the government’s manifesto pledge on waiting times without investment, particularly in operating theatres and surgical staff.
The census also highlights the considerable pressures facing surgical training. Nearly half (44%) of surgical trainees report not having dedicated time for training. Access to training opportunities in the independent sector, where NHS care is increasingly provided, remains inadequate. In the past year, only 10% of core surgical trainees and 7% of higher surgical trainees gained operative experience outside the NHS.
Alongside calling on the government to increase capital investment so NHS trusts can repair and improve buildings and infrastructure and increase surgical capacity, RCS England has also made specific recommendations on workforce and training.
- Darwin Group was recently announced as the Headline Sponsor of The Surgeon Show 2026, reinforcing its commitment to supporting surgical teams and tackling capacity challenges across the health sector.
