The Discharge Optimisation for Planned Surgery (DOPS) program saved 3,966 bed days in the 2026 financial year. This marks a 57.1% increase from bed days saved in 2025.
In the last quarter alone, participating health services saved 1,243 bed days – our biggest result yet.
This means:
- supporting safer, more coordinated recovery
- helping people get home sooner when it is clinically appropriate
- freeing up hospital capacity for others who need care.
While most bed day savings continue to come from orthopaedics, we are also seeing meaningful expansion into other specialties, particularly colorectal surgery.
And the work continues to grow in new ways. Health services are now embedding best-practice Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles into everyday practice, helping patients understand what to expect before, during and after surgery, and supporting multidisciplinary teams to engage earlier and more consistently in recovery and discharge planning.
At our June in-person Action Learning Lab, we discussed how health services can embed best-practice Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles into everyday practice, supporting patients and their multidisciplinary teams to engage earlier and more consistently in surgical recovery and discharge planning.
“I learned a tremendous amount and was impressed by the calibre of speakers and the passion of all who attended. It gave me hope for the future.”
"It was a pleasure to contribute to the Action Learning Lab and to be part of such a meaningful discussion. Personally, I walked out of the session feeling very motivated and I have already started the ERAS conversation in my colorectal unit."-Action Learning Lab participants
A huge congratulations to all involved for continuing to drive meaningful change across the system.
