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Plastic physicians: The surgical salamanders of the COVID-19 pandemic
B A Hughes1, S Hassan1, J Stallard1
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3EX, UK.
Insights
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Surgical services
- Pandemic response
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant global health challenges.
- The United Kingdom faced a high mortality rate from COVID-19.
- Hospitals needed to adapt services to manage both elective and acute care alongside COVID-19 patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the strategies implemented by a plastic surgery department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To outline the decision-making processes for maintaining urgent services.
- To share lessons learned for future service recovery.
Main Methods:
- Establishing new structures and pathways within the plastic surgery department.
- Implementing complex decision-making protocols.
- Managing COVID-19 positive patients within the ward.
Main Results:
- The department successfully maintained urgent elective and acute services.
- Effective management of COVID-19 positive patients was achieved.
- Early and effective response to the pandemic challenges was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The implemented structures and pathways allowed for a robust response to the pandemic.
- The strategies employed can serve as a model for other departments.
- These lessons are valuable for planning the recovery of normal surgical activity.
Abstract:
At the time of writing, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected 6.42 million people globally and over 380,000 deaths, with the United Kingdom now having the highest death rate in Europe. The plastic surgery department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals put necessary steps in place to maintain an excellent urgent elective and acute service whilst also managing COVID-positive medical patients in the ward. We describe the structures and pathways implemented together with complex decision-making, which has allowed us to respond early and effectively. We hope these lessons will prove a useful tool as we look to open conversations around the recovery of normal activity.
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