Restarting Services
Pathways and standard operating procedures have evolved through multiple iterations in an attempt to return to normal pre-COVID activity levels while maintaining patient and staff safety. With the advent of effective separation of preoperative and post-operative patients, rapid COVID swabbing, radiological screening and preoperative patient shielding, we have approached 80% theatre operating capacity. Staff safeguarding is maintained through mandatory social distancing, virtual MDTs, face masks as well as track and trace methods. Today, most of the cardiac surgery centres across the UK have resumed their activity in a phased return, initially with urgent/emergency cases. Now, elective cases are considered for surgery on the basis of RCS guidelines and patient self-isolation for 14 days prior to admission.