Utilisation of Plastic Surgery Theatres During the Covid-19 Pandemic at a Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Aim: • It has been noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous operations have been either cancelled or delayed. • Multiple reasons for this have been postulated. • One of the biggest changes noticed has been a reduction in allocated theatre space for specific plastic surgery trauma cases. • This QIP aimed to look into • Factors giving rise to delay • Provide measurable findings to allow change in our practice • Improving the patient journey with less cancellations • After implementing recommendations, to complete a subsequent cycle to ensure adequate implementation. Method: • A retrospective review was carried out for all patients operated (and planned) from 26th to 30th of October 2021. • Results were presented on the 17th of November. Recommendations were provided to plastic surgery staff via presentation. A copy of the presentation was sent to one of the managers of theatres. • After the implementation of recommendations, a second retrospective review was carried out between 18th - 24th of November, excluding the weekend. Results: • Significant time delays evident, between start time of theatres and sending for the first patient, the greatest being a whole 95 minutes! • More than 50% of all patients seen had experienced delays of 2 days or more before being operated on. • On not a single one of the days have we managed to attain 100% theatre utilisation. Conclusions: • Results from cycle 2 indicate a dramatic improvement in usage of the theatre times. • In all variables measured, significant and sustainable changes have been demonstrated in the utilisation of theatres. • Other variables are present which must be considered.