"Surgical Case Prioritisation and Harm Reviews. How, Why or Even Possible?”

Description

In this presentation, Arthur Stephen, an orthopedic surgeon and divisional medical director for surgery at a large trust in Derbyshire, discusses the pressing challenges within the healthcare system, particularly focusing on the orthopedic surgery waiting lists, which have surged to 82,000 patients nationally, with 6,000 waiting more than 52 weeks. He highlights the prioritization paradox where urgent cases (P1, P2, and P3) are being adequately addressed, but patients classified as low-risk routine (P4 and above) are often overlooked, leading to deterioration in their condition. Stephen shares alarming anecdotes from his practice, illustrating how patients with mild conditions are regressing into severe states due to prolonged waiting times, underscoring the need for accurate patient monitoring and intervention to avoid harm. He stresses the importance of clinical validation to ensure patient lists are accurate and reflects on the implications of mental health associated with long waiting periods, citing data where significant proportions of patients waiting for surgery rate their quality of life as worse than death. Stephen proposes a comprehensive approach to managing patient lists, advocating for the use of technology and AI to identify patients at risk of deteriorating health, while emphasizing the necessity of patient involvement in decision-making processes. He concludes by asserting the necessity of proactive measures to prevent harm and restore functionality to patients attempting to navigate the complex, resource-constrained system.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221496

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