The hospital's ninth theatre opened last month, mainly catering for acute and orthopaedic patients.
Because of staff shortages, particularly a lack of anaesthetists, the hospital cannot always operate the full contingent.
Southern District Health Board surgical medical director Murray Fosbender, through a spokeswoman, said all nine theatres would operate today and tomorrow. On Monday, the hospital ran eight and a-half theatres, and on Tuesday and Friday it ran eight.
It was hoped the $1.8 million theatre would increase operating time by 40 hours a week.
''Although theatre usage has not yet increased by the anticipated 40 hours, the additional theatre has increased our capacity and is an important resource as we work towards achieving our elective surgery targets.
''We have not collated the number of additional theatre hours resulting from having the ninth theatre yet, but we will continue to work with staff and locums to utilise as many theatres as possible each day,'' Mr Fosbender said.
The situation was expected to improve as new staff join the board over the next three months.
