Breast cancer surgery in a day case setting: Where do the Netherlands stand in 2004?

To assess to what extent day case surgery for breast cancer is practised in the Netherlands a questionnaire was sent to 105 surgeons/hospitals. In 2004, 30% of the hospitals performed minor and 3% performed major breast cancer surgery in a day case setting. Sixteen percent of the hospitals indicated planning to introduce day case surgery for minor and major breast cancer surgery. The basic requirements for this development are widely available. Potential obstacles can be overcome by adjustments in organisation, logistics and financial reimbursement, thus making day case surgery available to more patients while reducing health care costs.