There has been a rapid movement in the last few years towards day case work. A variety of routine and complex treatments, surgery and diagnostic tests can now be performed with the patient being admitted and discharged from hospital on the same day. The settings for day case work vary from traditional theatres to specially constructed day surgery units and treatment rooms. The ability to carry out day case procedures has increased the efficiency of the hospital system to the extent that half of all elective surgery is now done on a day case basis. Increased use of day case surgery will improve the efficiency of the hospital system, provide speedier access to services for the patient and reduce waiting times.