Annual physiotherapy reviews in a specialist respiratory clinic for bronchiectasis: the impact of COVID-19 on an already strained workforce

ABSTRACT

P108 Table 1Delivery of annual physiotherapy reviews before and during COVID-19Year Patients for review Patients reviewed % patients reviewed 31/03/2019–2020 392 226 57.7 01/04/2020–2021 408 130 31.9 ConclusionThe respiratory workforce has been central in the acute response to COVID-19, whilst reduced provision of pulmonary rehabilitation and specialist respiratory clinics has led to a significant reduction in access to care for patients with chronic respiratory conditions reliant on highly specialised management. It is anticipated that the consequences on chronic disease burden will continue to unfold long after the pandemic has been controlled.This research identifies a significant unmet need of physiotherapy within a specialist respiratory service, exacerbated by COVID-19. A wider exploration into respiratory workforce nationally will help to further understand the increased need in a COVID-19 world.ReferencesBTS. British Thoracic Society Guidelines for Bronchiectasis in Adults. Thorax, 2019 December;74(1)3.Chudasama Y., et al. Impact of COVID-19 on routine care for chronic diseases A global survey of views from healthcare professionals. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020;14(5)965–967.NHS. The NHS Long Term Plan. 2019. [Online] Available at www.longtermplan.nhs.uk [Accessed 15 June 2021].