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Theatre and anaesthetic-related equipment should always be equivalent to that provided for inpatient surgery. It should be regularly maintained and where possible standardised across all theatre suites within a hospital.^12,34

Full resuscitation equipment and drugs should be provided as outlined by the Resuscitation Council UK and local policy. A cardiac arrest trolley and defibrillator should be provided in the first-stage recovery area.^12,34

The use of operating trolleys for the entire patient pathway should be considered to maximise efficiency and reduce manual handling. No beds should be present on the day surgery ward.^5,9,15

The recommended Association of Anaesthetist standards of anaesthetic monitoring should be met for every patient.39

Peripheral nerve blocks or short-acting spinal anaesthesia often provide excellent conditions for day surgery. Equipment to facilitate these techniques such as nerve stimulators, ultrasound machines, NRFit spinal needles and syringes should be available.^5,12

Short-acting anaesthetic drugs and appropriate equipment to facilitate their delivery should be available to day surgery units. Total intravenous anaesthesia with appropriate depth of anaesthesia monitoring is effective in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Equipment for its use should be available in day surgery theatres.^26,37,40

Each day surgery unit should have a fully equipped recovery area, staffed by recovery personnel trained to defined standards.^12,37,41

Preoperative assessment services if provided within the day surgery unit should have support from investigation laboratories or clinical testing services to support diagnosis for risk assessment and optimisation of patients. This will allow day surgery selection to be maximised for high-risk patients.^12,17

Access for preoperative assessment staff to multidisciplinary teams support from other physicians, medical specialists, anaesthetists, surgeons and pain management teams should be available.¹²

If day surgery does not have preoperative assessment within the unit, there must be an appropriate preoperative assessment service to support effective day surgery patient selection and preparation.