title: The same day admissions unit for elective surgery: a case study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to examine the activity of a purpose-built elective surgery unit in a busy district general hospital and the patient journey associated with same day admission to the elective surgery unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper describes the layout of the elective surgery unit in a busy district general hospital and the associated patient journey. Early challenges are identified and potential cost savings calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The potential for cost savings in the NHS with purpose-built units for elective surgery are immense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elective surgery unit has not been described in detail before. Apart from its value to the NHS, hospitals in developing countries can benefit from knowing about the early challenges, described in the paper, that were faced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK. Vardhini.vijay@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vardhini
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vijay
authors.forename: Sarmad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kazzaz
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Refson
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010343:Patient Admission; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D006113:United Kingdom