Analgesia prescribing in a Surgical Assessment Unit

ABSTRACT

Aim: Efficient analgesia administration is paramount to delivering good patient care and is an important factor in The safe assessment of patients. The aim of this audit was to assess analgesia prescribing and administration in The local Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) and compare it with The standard of care set out by The Royal College of Emergency Medicine guidelines. Method(s) A retrospective audit was performed. Paper and electronic notes, including electronic prescribing data via HEpMA and pain scores were analysed for all patients referred with abdominal pain to SAU by Gp's between The 21st of October and The 30th of October 2021. Data was compared with The RCEM best practice guidelines. Result(s) A total of 33 patients were included. 39% of patients had a documented first pain score within 15 minutes of arrival, with a median time of 20 minutes. of all patients presenting with moderate to severe pain, none received analgesia within 20 minutes. Earliest analgesia administration for this group was 1 hour 42 minutes. Overall median time to first analgesia prescription was 2 hours and 4 minutes and median time to administration was 4 hours and 8 minutes. Conclusion(s) Since The COVID pandemic, NHS hospital staff-and bed shortages have put increased pressure on The delivery of safe patient care. This audit has found significant delays in both prescribing and administering analgesia for patients presenting to SAU. An electronic prescribing protocol was developed to increase efficiency in prescribing and another audit will be conducted to assess impact.