Question: Why is it useful to allocate a classification of surgical urgency to each case?

Answer: Patients scheduled for non-urgent surgery patients have sufficient time for appropriate corrective action of their medical problems and so reduces their risk of harm.

Patients scheduled for urgent surgery will benefit from resuscitation prior to emergency anaesthesia and surgery, in some it will save their lives.

Urgent/Emergency patients should be monitored for signs of deterioration so that their surgery can be expedited if necessary.

Some patients can have their risk of aspiration (and death) reduced by allowing the appropriate starvation time.

It helps communication and planning for the whole theatre team.