1068 Are There Delays to Emergency CEPOD Theatre Times? a Closed-Loop Audit Before and After Having a Dedicated CEPOD Registrar

Abstract

Abstract Aim To evaluate delays to Emergency Theatre (CEPOD) start times, “knife-to-skin” times, turnover between cases, and whether having a separate Registrar for CEPOD has improved theatre flow. Method This was a closed-loop retrospective audit at Walsall Manor Hospital with data collected using the electronic system, in two 4-week blocks; from 13/06/2022 – 10/07/2022 and then again from 18/07/22 – 14/08/22. 4 days were excluded due to external factor delays which could not be attributed to the theatre team. The target for patients being sent for was 08:40 AM, and arrival was 09:00 AM as per hospital policy. Results 90.4% (47/52) of patients who were the first case of each day were sent for after 08:40 AM. 88.5% (46/52) arrived in the anaesthetic room after 09:00 AM. 94.2% (49/52) had “knife-to-skin” after 09:30 AM and 71.2% (37/52) after 10:00 AM. 36.5% (19/52) had a turnover time of more than 30 mins between cases. There were statistically significant differences between the mean times for the following categories when there was a single on-call Registrar vs when there was a dedicated CEPOD registrar: Time sent for (09:33 vs 09:08, p-value 0.015), Arrival Time (10:00 vs 09:32, p-value 0.010) and turnover time between cases (00:39 vs 00:11, p-value 0.018). Conclusions There are significant delays to CEPOD start times, anaesthetic times, “knife-to-skin times, and turnover times. Having a separate dedicated CEPOD registrar made a difference to the flow of emergency cases.