ABSTRACT
Background In Stem Cell Transplants approximately two thirds of donors are identified and used from unrelated donor registries. In January 2020, we considered the impact that Covid19 infections and restrictions would have on donor availability. We identified that we needed to change our practice to ensure we could continue the SCT procedures which are critical for patients. Methods In January 2020, the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Transplantation Service Professional Advisory committee (JPAC) changed the Tissue and cell donor selection guidelines. The risk and restrictions of Covid19 caused significant challenges including logistical issues for product delivery. Donor deferrals at medical assessments increased from 14% to 29% and overall activity in the UK was 75% of usual provision. Best practice was established and agreed with the donor registries. As per NICE guidelines, cryopreservation of all stem cell products was recommended with fresh donations considered according to patient condition. Back up donors were identified where possible. All donors were tested for Covid 19 on day of medical and harvest to ensure effective screening. We carried out 58 stem cell procedures from unrelated donors in 2020 and 56 in 2021. This activity is comparable to previous years. We secured stem cell products from Germany, USA, Korea, Poland, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK. We analysed our data to assess if any delays occurred. Ethical approval was not required for this service evaluation. Results SCT activity was maintained throughout Covid19 with only postponement of elective SCT's which was assessed to be in the patient's best interest. Discussion We were able to adapt our practice to the benefit of our patients in unique and challenging circumstances. Conclusion We implemented measures which enabled BMT activity to continue throughout the acute Covid19 period despite challenges with new variants and further restrictions.
ABSTRACT
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on many aspects of life, perhaps most notably education. Efforts to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic, particularly lockdowns, led to major disruptions in schools and resulted in both learning loss and increased mental health challenges for students. These deleterious impacts appear to have been felt most keenly by students from marginalized communities, including first and second generation students. Materials and methodsThis study sought to investigate the mechanisms underlying these negative effects of pandemic mitigation efforts, particularly in terms of school efforts to support teachers and parents of students not speaking the language of instruction for three nations (Denmark, Russia, and Slovenia) included in the Responses to Educational Disruption Survey (REDS) survey. ResultsResults of the study revelated that in Denmark greater school-level support to teachers of non-native language students moderated the relationship between home language status and student perceptions of their relative academic performance before and during the pandemic, but that such was not the case in Russia or Slovenia. Likewise, school-level support to teachers moderated the relationship between home language status and perceived teacher support in Denmark but not in Russia or Slovenia. Implications of these results are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Background: In February 2021 Roche announced a new subcutaneous (SC) product to the market;Phesgo. Phesgo was a combination pertuzumab and trastuzumab product which was funded by NHS England for all HER2 positive breast cancer indications. Day case unit capacity is a local and national issue, which has been further highlighted through the COVID19 pandemic with the reduction in treatment chairs due to social distancing and increase in cancer diagnosis and required treatments caused by the backlog from the pandemic. Aim: The aim of this project was to switch all intravenous (IV) pertuzumab and trastuzumab combination patients to SC Phesgo;to alleviate day case unit capacity and to improve the patient experience by June 2021. Methods: A report from CIS Healthcare was run within the electronic prescribing system to highlight all patients and regimes receiving and containing IV pertuzumab;a total of 148 patients network wide. A patient information letter was drafted explaining the change underway which was then emailed or posted out to all patients across the network receiving IV pertuzumab. Alternative regimens containing SC Phesgo were built into the electronic prescribing system;from week commencing 19.04.21 any patient receiving treatment at the tertiary centre (Weston Park Hospital(WPH)) who had received IV pertuzumab and trastuzumab previously would receive SC Phesgo. A patient evaluation questionnaire was distributed to all patients who participated in the switch to SC Phesgo at WPH, to gain qualitative feedback on the switch from the patient perspective. Results: All 148 identified patients receiving IV pertuzumab and trastuzumab were switched to SC Phesgo. Of the 148 patients 81 patients were receiving treatment at WPH, 49 patient evaluation questionnaires were completed;96% of patients were happy with the switch to SC Phesgo. By switching to SC Phesgo there was a weekly average of 48.1 h of chair time saved per week;a 56.9% reduction in chair time for this cohort of treatments and an overall reduction of 5.5% of chair time for the day case unit. In additional to the chair time saved, there was also on average 21.2 nurse hours saved per week;a reduction of 53.5% in nurse time for this cohort and an overall reduction of 4.6% of nurse time for the day case unit. Discussion/Conclusion: By administering SC Phesgo instead of the IV equivalents there have been significant reductions in patient, chair and nurse time. This reduction has help alleviate chair and nurse time capacity issues which were critical prior to the switch in April 2021 due to the COVID19 pandemic. There is an associated cost saving for commissioners despite the number of treatments remaining stable, in March 2021 the cost to the commissioners for all IV pertuzumab and trastuzumab given to breast cancer patients was £320,532.70;in May 2021 this figure (for SC Phesgo) had reduced to £145,956.00. In conclusion the switch the SC Phesgo has improved the patient experience, increased chair and nurse capacity on the day case unit.