503 Post-Pandemic Elective Surgical Activity: A Focus on Day-Case Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies Across England

Abstract

Abstract Aim To investigate the association between post-pandemic activity levels and day-case rates for laparoscopic cholecystectomies in England. Method We examined data from HES (Hospital Episode Statistics) on adult elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies for the period January 2019 to September 2022 (inclusive). Activity levels in the first six months of 2022 were compared to activity levels for the whole of 2019 (the baseline). Day-case activity was identified where the length of stay record in HES was zero days. Data were summarised at an Integrated Care Board (ICB) level for analysis. Results Data were available for 168,811 patients across the 42 ICBs in England. By April–September 2022, activity levels had returned to 89% of pre-pandemic levels for the whole of England. The South West Region stood out as having recovered activity levels to the greatest extent, with activity at 102% of pre-pandemic levels by April–September 2022. The South West also had the highest post-pandemic day-case rate at 75% of all patients seen as day-cases during April–September 2022; this compares to an England average of 66%. All other regions had day case rates between 62 and 68%. At an ICB level, there was a significant correlation between day-case rates and post-pandemic activity levels (r = 0.327, p < 0.035). Conclusions Recovery of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy activity has been better in South West England than in other regions. Day case rates may be important if ICBs in other regions are to increase activity levels.