Purpose
To review department activity during Level 2 lockdown for COVID19 and critically appraise measures taken for staff and patient safety
Methodology
Electronic data of activities within department before, during and after pandemic lockdown in intervals of 3 months were acquired from clinical coding.
A survey of medical staff’s wellbeing was conducted within 1 week of Level 2 lockdown was conducted using validated workplace questionnaire.
Complications arising from Level 2 lowdown period when COVID19 streamlined service provision was introduced were obtained from Mortality and Morbidity (M&M) database and critically appraised.
Results
2 out of 16 staff anonymously reported depression with risk to self from lockdown with concerns of ‘own ability to work safely.’ (chi squared p=0.004)
Elective work requiring admission was reduced by 20% (chi squared p=0.00001) and acute service requiring admission was reduced by 60% (chi squared p=0.000001).
General clinical activities was reduced by 33% (chi squared p=0.05).
2 patients with complex pathology were delayed for surgery with significant progression of disease on the day of surgery when seen by different teams leading to drastic change in management.
2 elderly patients contacted by phone consultation during lockdown presented to their general practitioners with regional recurrences within the same week of consultation where no concerns were identified.
Hand rehabilitation service was significantly reduced for acute trauma (p=0.002) leading to significant morbidity and cost.
Conclusion
Development of department streamlined measures to meet clinical needs and safety requirement during pandemic lockdown is a new experience where the balance is extremely delicate and challenging both at all levels.