Gothenburg – September 23, 2026 -- Mölnlycke Health Care has released The Hidden Capacity Report, an international study identifying significant untapped capacity in day surgery that could improve surgical throughput and reduce waiting times across healthcare systems.
Survey of 256 healthcare professionals across ten countries exposes adoption gaps
The report draws on a review of international literature, a survey of 256 healthcare professionals across ten countries, expert interviews and guidance from an international expert panel of key opinion leaders. Despite strong clinical evidence supporting day surgery, adoption remains inconsistent across countries, healthcare organisations, specialties and individual clinical teams.
Report identifies pathway design, not clinical feasibility, as main barrier
The findings show progress toward expanding day surgery is often limited by implementation and pathway design rather than whether procedures are clinically suitable. The report argues day surgery should increasingly become the default pathway for clinically appropriate procedures, with greater adoption helping to reduce waiting times, improve productivity and optimise use of healthcare resources. It also flags that expansion efforts must address potential health inequalities.
UK surgeon says day surgery frees inpatient beds for acute cases
Mr. David Bunting, Consultant in Upper Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Surgery at North Devon District Hospital, United Kingdom, said day surgery frees up inpatient beds for patients with more acute medical or complex surgical needs and improves hospital flow, adding that patients also prefer it.
Mölnlycke executive links report to resource pressure on healthcare systems
Fredrik Wallefors, Executive Vice President Operating Room Solutions at Mölnlycke Health Care, said healthcare systems face growing pressure to do more with less, and that the report brings together evidence and expert insights to support safe, efficient and patient-centred day surgery pathways.