Day surgery is an increasingly important part
of elective surgery. It currently accounts for 50 per cent of elective surgery
in the UK, and 60 per cent or more in the USA and Canada, with predictions of
further increases. The impetus for this has been the high cost of keeping
patients in in-patient beds, the reduction in availability of these beds and
long surgical waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. Improvements
in anaesthesia and pain control, minimally invasive surgery and changing
attitudes to recovery after surgery have all promoted the expansion of day
surgery. Patients, particularly children, benefit from reduced stays in hospital
and a rapid return to their home environment, provided that their surgery is
uncomplicated and without significant pain or nausea. The quality of care in day
surgery should be of the same high standard as that expected for inpatient
surgery. Day Surgery Units (DSU) are the best way to achieve this.