After reading a report in last week’s Watford Observer, I am absolutely flabbergasted and completely astonished that bosses at West Herts Hospitals Trust are considering introducing ‘barn theatres’ to our hospitals.

It would mean patients who had been prepped for surgery and asleep would be wheeled into a barn theatre where other operations would be going on at the same time. Although each operating table would have its own dedicated surgeon, anaesthetist and lead nurse, other operating members of staff would have to be flexible and adaptable and to be shared with each operating table.

The possibility of barn theatres was highlighted by the Trust deputy chief executive Helen Brown at a meeting of Herts County Council health scrutiny committee. I don’t agree with Ms Brown when she says it would boost productivity. To boost productivity would mean at the expense of patient safety. Quantity and quality together is not possible.

I was even more surprised and greatly astonished when Ms Brown says she has evidence that suggests barn theatres can make surgery safer. I can’t accept that barn theatres are an emerging way forward for patients in West Hertfordshire who are booked in for surgery.

Ernie Mackenzie

Gammons Lane, Watford