Practices we anticipate keeping post-COVID-19 and a blueprint for how our system would adapt to further pandemics
Anticipated practice post-COVID-19 | Blueprint for further pandemics |
Consultant/fellow front of house for all acute referrals | Switch back to team-based rota with resilience for absences |
One-stop-shop model of care | Prioritise only urgent and time critical elective work |
Procedure room for minor cases under WALANT | Complete segregation of elective and trauma services |
Seven day service | Remote access trauma meetings |
Consultant-led ward round and efficient patient discharge | Remote appointments where possible |
Video/telephone consultations alternating with face to face | Use procedure room where possible |
Senior clinician-led service planning | Daily strategy meetings and appraisal of resources |
Absorbable skin sutures, more pt involvement in postop care | More senior nurse input as junior doctors redeployed |
Senior trauma nurse training to assist in minor cases | Minimal use of general anaesthetic |
Early diagnosis pathways—for example, MRI for suspected scaphoid | See patients directly after triage to offload emergency department |
Permanent utilisation of face masks particularly in vulnerable patients | |
Offload emergency department where possible—especially in winter |
WALANT, wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet .