This second section of the report on surgical services in Herefordshire has three parts. Part A includes the authors' observations of practices in waiting list management and admissions policy which caused concern. Part B concerns practices in the operating theatres which were observed and which give cause for concern. Wherever appropriate reference has been made to the Joint Memorandum of the MDU/RCN which was included as appendix 5 of part 1 of the report. Part C included in this report summarises the main points which arose from the discussions with different staff groups within the health authority and which contributed to the authors' understanding of the presenting problem.