I don't know about anyone else, but I couldn't even read that poster (even if I downloaded it and zoomed in). Some of few words I could make out looked looked like Greek to me.

   - Andy.

One of the features of Production Systems is level production. On Radio 4 this morning there was a piece on NHS surgery backlogs. A Surgeon was talking about how he had increased weekend theatre capacity. Usually the theatre staff have a wait between patients when the theatre is cleaned and set up for the next patient. To speed up throughput they now prepare a spare theatre during the current patient's surgery so that they can move straight into the pre-prepared theatre with the next patient - and so no. This is an example of 'level production' as included in my poster. I should say that this technique is only possible, at the moment, at weekends where they have spare theatres.

Could it be argued that doing this requires more resources, such as staff, equipment, and theatres, to operate two theatres concurrently. It also relies on the availability of spare theatres, which may not be feasible during weekdays or peak times as you said. Furthermore, it may not tackle the underlying causes of the NHS surgery backlogs, such as the shortage of staff, funding, and capacity in the health system.

Process Productivity, effectiveness and efficiency are all underlying causes of NHS backlogs in addition to the issues you list, i.e. staff shortages, funding and capacity. Process Productivity, effectiveness and Effectiveness will all be addressed by an NHSps.

Thanks for your comment AMK

Andy, If you click on the illustration then click on 'Zoom in' top left of screen you will see a larger image.

I wonder if there are any healthcare engineers or estate managers using this forum? I would like to hear their thoughts on the topic of NHS backlogs and how an NHSps could help improve the situation. As you have mentioned, Process Productivity, effectiveness and efficiency are all underlying causes of NHS backlogs in addition to the issues of staff shortages, funding and capacity. I am curious to know how NHSps would work in practice and what challenges or opportunities it would entail.

I was a Production Engineer working in manufacturing including the car industry. I was a member of the Institute of Production Engineers (IProdE) The IProdE joined forces with the then IEE. Not sure if there are any Production Engineers left in the IET. I was hoping that if there are then they would join this forum. It would be good if any members working in the NHS joined in. The VMIps certainly has worked in practice and VMI Consultants are working with the NHS. I'm sure IET members could provide some very useful imput.

Thanks for sharing your background and experience as a Production Engineer. It is impressive to know that you participated in the car industry and the IProdE. I was unaware of the VMIps or the VMI Consultants until now, but I looked them up online . It seems that they are related to veterinary medicine and animal health ? 

Not sure about animal health, it's certainly human health now. If you search on Amazon for Virginia Mason you will see their three books. All about delivering healthcare in their hospitals. I think that they have 11 and many more smaller clinics. I'll good stuff.

Ian, If you click on the illustration then click on 'Zoom in' top left of screen you will see a larger image.

Ian, If you click on the illustration then click on 'Zoom in' top left of screen you will see a larger image.