The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic First National Lockdown on Emergency Referrals to a Tertiary Referral Spine Centre 

Description

This presentation is delivered by Danny Tadros, a surgical trainee, discussing a retrospective study conducted on the referral patterns to an adult spinal service during the first national COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. Tadros begins by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to present and provides context about the study's aim: to assess whether the lockdown influenced the number and type of referrals to the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals' spinal service, which serves approximately 1.5 million people.



He describes the methodology, detailing a data collection period covering 29 weeks, during which over 1,000 patients were referred. The analysis revealed a reduction in referrals during lockdown, particularly in face-to-face presentations, though the overall decline was not statistically significant. Tadros notes a rebound in referrals following the lockdown, with a significant proportion of patients continuing to require urgent care, including those needing immediate transfer.



The study also distinguished between various types of referrals, observing that self-presenting patients notably declined, while urgent care needs persisted. Tadros emphasizes the importance of messaging to encourage patients, particularly vulnerable groups, to seek timely medical attention during any health crisis.



In summarizing the findings, Tadros highlights that there was a fifth decrease in emergency referrals initially, but subsequently, levels returned to a peak pattern. The demographic insights from the data provided underlying reasons for changes in referral patterns, which sparked questions from the audience regarding GP referrals and the implications for future healthcare practices.

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