505 A Single Center Cohort Observational Study to Assess The Surgical Admissions During COVID-19 And Recommendations For Redeployment Of The Surgical Workforce

Abdalla, M l; Connolly, T; Bujoreanu, I; Stylianides, N A

INTRODUCTION: The redeployment of the surgical workforce to support other frontline specialties was an integral part of the nationwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The R number is gradually increasing in different parts of the UK suggesting a second wave is imminent. Aimed to analyze the surgical emergency workload and provide recommendations for future redeployments. METHOD: Three separate cohorts of adult emergency admissions; emergency admissions prior to lockdown (23(rd) of February to 22(nd) of March), 1 month after (23(rd) of March to 22(nd) of April) and 2 months after (23(rd) of April to 22(nd) of May). Data was collected regarding patient characteristics, duration of symptoms prior to presentation, clinical outcomes and compared between these groups. RESULTS: Notable initial decrease in admission per day (4.3 to 2.5) and interventional management (30%) during the 1(st) month of lockdown. A marked increase in 24-hour discharge rate (50%). These parameters begun to normalize by the 2(nd) month. The rate of overall conservative management gradually increased from 36.7% pre-lockdown to 60.9% at the 2(nd) month. CONCLUSIONS: Providing elective work is cancelled, surgical teams could safely tolerate working with 30%-40% of original staffing level, which will need to be gradually increased to 50%-70% after 1 month.