Purpose: Abscess drainage under general anaesthesia (GA) significantly increases workload in acute surgical theatres. In New Zealand, limited theatre accessibility often delays these procedures, prolonging hospital stays and increasing costs. Penthrox (methoxyflurane), an inhaled analgesic, offers effective pain relief without inducing unconsciousness and is widely used for minor surgical procedures in Europe but not yet adopted in New Zealand. This study investigates the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of Penthrox for abscess drainage on acute surgical wards. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Waikato Hospital (July 2022–July 2024). Patients with "simple drainable" abscesses underwent drainage under Penthrox (3mL methoxyflurane). Data collected included demographics, abscess location, procedure duration, patient tolerance, readmission rates, and discharge times. Results: Of 138 patients (female=62.3%, median age=38.7 years), abscess locations included abdominal wall (7.2%), axillary (14.5%), perianal/pilonidal (13.0%), and other sites (17.4%). Drainage was successful in 130 patients (94.2%), with a mean procedure time of 11 minutes. Three patients (2.3%) required reoperation within 30 days, with no reported complications from Penthrox. Most patients (94.6%) were discharged within 24 hours, and feedback was uniformly positive. Conclusion: Penthrox is a safe, effective alternative to GA for abscess drainage, reducing strain on surgical theatres and allowing significant cost savings (~NZD $1000 per patient). Widespread adoption could improve efficiency in resource-limited healthcare systems without compromising patient outcomes.