This is the second book in the Core Topics in Operating Department Practice series. Following the overwhelming success of the first book, Anaesthesia and Critical Care, we offer this leadership and managerial text as another reference point for practising and studying perioperative practitioners.

The motivation in compiling this book was the observation that, despite the immense complexity of managing a modern operating theatre suite, books aimed at addressing issues for theatre managers were few in number. This remarkable fact is hard to explain given that sound management and effective leadership are regarded as key factors in health service modernization. Indeed, the need for strong and effective leadership is one of the few points on which operating department practitioners, nurses, medical staff, politicians and patients can agree upon in developing services in the new century.

Taking the same approach as our first book, colleagues from a variety of backgrounds have kindly given up their time to share their expertise in numerous fields, such as corporate governance, the development of advanced roles, the management of cultural diversity in the perioperative environment and the influence of organizational culture in the day-to-day life of a theatre suite. Each chapter explores the topic in a clear authoritative style, giving personal experiences to illustrate how some issues could be overcome and could reshape the patient's experience.

We hope that each chapter will enable the reader to develop skills that will be useful in setting into theoretical context the demands of everyday practice.