Preparing for COVID-19: rapid redeployment workshops for Senior Doctors.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Infectious Disease Management
• Healthcare Workforce Training

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated restructuring secondary care and physician roles.
• Specialization increased anxiety regarding redeploying consultants to support medical care.
• Need for rapid, effective training for senior doctors facing new clinical demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usefulness, feasibility, and acceptability of focused refresher training for senior doctors.
• To determine the impact of this training on physician confidence and anxiety regarding redeployment.
• To evaluate a novel training model for rapid upskilling during health crises.

Main Methods:

• A half-day high-fidelity simulation course covering resuscitation, COVID-19 recognition, oxygen therapy, basic procedures, IT, and PPE.
• Training delivered by a multidisciplinary team maintaining social distancing.
• Anonymous post-course evaluations collected from participants.

Main Results:

• 98.7% of participants found the course beneficial, with 67.5% strongly agreeing.
• Trainees reported increased confidence and reduced anxiety about managing COVID-19 patients.
• The training model demonstrated adaptability and resilience with flexible staffing.

Conclusions:

• Focused refresher training is beneficial, feasible, and acceptable for senior doctors facing redeployment.
• A lean, adaptable training model can be effectively implemented for rapid upskilling during major incidents.
• This approach enhances physician readiness and reduces anxiety in response to public health emergencies.