TheatrePracticeStandardsGeneric1

Generic Theatre Standard No 17 - Theatre Etiquette
Standard Statement: All staff will endeavour to maintain a professional demeanour within the
department at all times, treat their colleagues with courtesy and respect, and provide the best
possible care for all patients who enter the department.
Method:
• All staff are expected to be changed and ready for duty at their allocated start time.
• Talking outside of the anaesthetic rooms and theatres must be kept to a minimum to
avoid disruption.
• The use of mobile phones is restricted – staff must familiarise themselves and comply
with the theatre standard regarding the use of mobile phones in the department.
• Staff must be familiar with and adhere to the existing Operating Theatre Standards.
• Staff must be familiar with and adhere to the Operating Theatre Philosophy.
• Staff must be familiar with and adhere to the dress policy as outlined in the Preparation
of Personnel Operating Theatre Standard.
• Staff must ensure that entitlement to lunch and breaks is not exceeded. The morning
coffee break will be granted by the team leader and is for fifteen minutes. Lunch breaks
are not to exceed 30 minutes unless permitted by the team leader in mitigating
circumstances. The afternoon tea break is discretionary and will be granted, when
possible, by the theatre team leader.
• Smoking is not allowed on any RCHT site. Staff wishing to smoke during their allocated
break times must change and leave the trust site. These staff must ensure that they do
not return late from break times as this is discourteous to colleagues. Help and support
is available from Occupational Health for staff members who wish to give up smoking.
• To prevent disruption of air flows and minimise the risk of cross infection staff must
restrict their movement in and out of each theatre environment.
• Staff should address members of the theatre team by their appropriate title unless
invited to do otherwise, especially in front of awake patients.
• Patients should be addressed by Mr or Mrs/Ms/Miss (except for paediatric patients)
unless they have given prior consent to be address by their given name. Details of
preferred form of address should be indicated on the theatre check list.
• If it is necessary to speak to a member of the surgical team during an operative
procedure, it is essential that this is initiated through the scrub person.
• Staff must be familiar with the trust values and demonstrate behaviour that is
consistent with these. Any member of staff demonstrating behaviour that is not
consistent with these values will be challenged and action taken if behaviour is not
redressed.
Compliance: 100%
Exceptions: None
References:
• RCHT Values
• Preparation of Personnel
• Use of Mobile Phones in Theatre
• Operating Theatre Philosophy
• Preparation of theatre staff
79