Restarting Elective Work. The BOA Viewpoint and a Paediatric Comment!

Description

In this presentation, Professor Deborah Eastwood outlines the challenges facing elective surgeries, particularly in Trauma Orthopaedics, as the healthcare system grapples with the backlog exacerbated by COVID-19. She emphasizes the significant waiting lists that have grown during the pandemic, with over 500,000 people currently awaiting procedures, including a staggering increase of long waiters from 100,000 to 300,000. Eastwood points out that despite a drop in new referrals during the peak of COVID-19, the situation is now on the rebound, leading to an alarming surge in waiting times. She highlights the various impacts of the delayed surgeries on patients, such as prolonged pain and deterioration of health, with many feeling lost in the system due to a lack of communication from healthcare units. Eastwood discusses the inequities in access to surgeries and the need for prioritization, especially for vulnerable populations like children with disabilities who depend heavily on additional therapy and support that has been lacking during the lockdowns. Her call to action centers around the need to improve communication, reassess waiting lists, and acknowledge the complex emotional and physical toll on patients while advocating for necessary changes within the healthcare system.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-210351

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