RCSI has welcomed the publication by the HSE of the National Clinical Guidance for the Elective Care Facilities (November 2025), a comprehensive resource designed to support healthcare professionals in delivering safe, high-quality, and efficient elective surgical care.

Developed by RCSI for the Health Service Executive, the guidance was published at the annual RCSI Milling Meeting which took place today.

It provides evidence-based guidance covering all stages of the surgical journey, from pre-operative assessment and patient optimisation, to discharge planning and follow-up. It reflects the latest best practice in governance, patient safety, and multidisciplinary coordination, promoting a consistent, high standard of care across surgical specialties and hospital settings.

A commitment to quality and patient-centred care

Elective surgery is a cornerstone of modern healthcare. The move by the Department of Health to separate scheduled from unscheduled care by building elective care facilities will increase surgical capacity and support specific procedures to be planned in advance, reducing the risk of cancellation.

As outlined in the RCSI National Clinical Programme for Surgery’s Model of Care for Elective Surgery, these services allow care to be delivered in a safer, more timely, accessible, cost-effective and efficient manner. The new national guidance published today supports this goal by setting out clear frameworks to standardise and strengthen day-surgery models, day-of-surgery admission pathways, and post-operative care, while embedding robust governance and audit processes.

Professor Deborah McNamara, President of RCSI, said: “This clinical guidance represents another important step in our collective effort to enhance the quality and consistency of surgical care in Ireland. Elective surgery is vital to patient wellbeing and to the sustainability of our health services. By supporting evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary teamwork, and continuous improvement, this guidance will empower surgical teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients undergoing elective surgical procedures.”

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, said: “Elective surgery is essential in ensuring patients receive timely, planned treatment that restores health and quality of life. The Clinical Guidance provides a practical and comprehensive framework for delivering this care safely and efficiently. It reflects the shared commitment of the HSE and RCSI to improving patient experience, enhancing capacity, and ensuring that clinical excellence and sustainability remains at the heart of our health service.”

Strengthening surgical services

The National Clinical Guidance for the Elective Care Facilities provides:

• Clear guidance on patient and procedure suitability
• Clinical governance and safe elective care pathways
• Advice on areas such as screening, patient-initiated reviews, criteria led discharge
• Evidence-based standards for pre-operative optimisation, intra-operative safety, and post-operative recovery and safe discharge
• Advice on managing escalation and transfers when needed
• Tools to support hospitals in improving theatre efficiency, implementing day-of-surgery admission models, and embedding clinical audit and quality improvement
• A shared reference framework for multidisciplinary teams, ensuring consistent and coordinated care across the surgical system, including training opportunities.

This publication reinforces RCSI’s ongoing partnership with the HSE and healthcare professionals nationwide to strengthen elective surgical services and ensure that every patient receives timely, effective and safe surgical care.

You can download the full report here.

Find out more on the RCSI National Clinical Programme for Surgery here.