ACCCTrack survey monitors disruption of perioperative and critical care this winter
15 February 2021
The ACCCTrack survey (Anaesthesia and critical care covid tracking survey) is designed to monitor over time how hospitals, perioperative and critical care has been affected by COVID-19. We have now completed two rounds and are in the midst of the third round.
First we would like to thank all NAP7 Local Co-ordinators, many aided by local trainee involvement, who have redirected their efforts to provide information for ACCCTrack. We now have results from Round 1 (October 2020) and Round 2 (December 2020).
Key findings in the survey so far are:
In December 2020,
More than two thirds of hospitals perioperative care was significantly disrupted by COVID-19 pressures and in a quarter were not functional.
In almost half of hospitals critical care required expanded capacity.
1 in 5 operating theatres were closed compared to the corresponding period in 2019.
To counteract the loss of theatre time and facilitate ‘lower COVID-19 risk’ surgery, 62% of hospitals were undertaking surgery at external sites including within the independent sector.
In those operating theatres that were open they were working at well below normal activity (most commonly at around 75% normal capacity).
There had been a 30% reduction in surgical activity overall: an estimated 5500 fewer operations each day across the UK, equivalent to more than a million operations lost in a year.
Among surgical specialties the falls in surgical activity were 36% of non-cancer surgery, 35% paediatric surgery, 25% cancer surgery and 10% emergency surgery (compared to the corresponding months in 2019).
Staffing levels had been significantly impacted with an 18% depletion in the anaesthesia workforce.
This includes staff absent as a result of COVID-19 infection, shielding and/or quarantining, self-isolation, redeployment to non-patient facing activities or to critical care.
Between October and December the number of staff redeployed to ICU has increased by almost 50% with ICU workforce increasing around 60%.
The overall disruption to perioperative and critical care appeared worse in December than in October and this is matched by local co-ordinators' opinions (39% reporting worse vs 21% better).
Key findings from the ACCC-track survey are available to view below.
A huge thank you to all our NAP Local Coordinators for their contribution.
We urge all departments to respond to Round 3, if this has not already been done, and thank you for taking the time needed to provide these data. Please return results - relating to the last two weeks of January 2021 - by 26 February 2021.
For further information please click here.
Dr Emira Kursumovic, Prof Jas Soar, Prof Tim Cook and the ACCC Track team
ENDS