New Report Reveals Opportunities to Expand Day Surgery

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Mölnlycke Health Care has released a new report, "The Hidden Capacity Report," which highlights the potential for expanding day surgery to improve healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes. The report, a collaborative effort involving a review of international literature, surveys of healthcare professionals, and expert interviews, underscores the significant opportunities that day surgery can offer to healthcare systems worldwide.

According to the report, day surgery, which involves performing clinically appropriate procedures without an overnight stay, can help address the growing pressure on healthcare systems to increase capacity while managing workforce constraints, financial pressures, and rising demand for surgery. Day surgery is increasingly seen as a viable solution, supported by advances in surgery, anesthesia, patient care, and recovery pathways. However, despite its benefits, adoption remains inconsistent across different countries, healthcare organizations, specialties, and individual clinical teams.

The report identifies several key findings. Firstly, there are substantial opportunities to expand day surgery across healthcare systems. Secondly, day surgery should increasingly become the default pathway for appropriate procedures, reducing waiting times and improving productivity. Thirdly, greater adoption can optimize the use of healthcare resources. However, progress is often limited by implementation and pathway design rather than clinical feasibility. The report also emphasizes the need to address potential health inequalities when expanding day surgery.

The report reflects Mölnlycke's commitment to supporting sustainable healthcare through evidence, innovation, and collaboration. It aims to stimulate dialogue with healthcare leaders, clinicians, and policymakers on practical ways to improve healthcare system resilience, efficiency, and patient outcomes. The findings are intended to guide healthcare organizations in expanding day surgery safely and at scale, thereby enhancing overall healthcare capacity and patient satisfaction.

The Hidden Capacity Report explores the barriers, enablers, and policy measures associated with expanding day surgery safely and at scale. The findings are based 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. The report highlights that significant opportunities remain to expand day surgery across healthcare systems, and day surgery should increasingly become the default pathway for clinically appropriate procedures. Greater adoption can help reduce waiting times, improve productivity, and optimize the use of healthcare resources. However, progress is often limited by implementation and pathway design rather than clinical feasibility. The report also underscores the need to address potential health inequalities when expanding day surgery.

The report is available via molnlycke.com/en-gb/campaign/ors/day-surgery/the-hidden-capacity-report/.