996 Circumcisions in the Community; a New Initiative

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The average waiting time for an initial outpatient appointment in urology at UHL is 23 weeks and waiting times for circumcisions are significantly longer. A new initiative in Leicester has enabled a proportion of fit and healthy NHS patients to have their circumcision under LA within the community. Our aim was to audit our practice to determine if this initiative could be trialled across other urological departments in the UK. Method A prospective database has been maintained and 76 patients who underwent a circumcision in the community between November 2021 and August 2022 were identified. 16 patients were excluded since they were not contactable via telephone. Online hospital records and GP records were used in addition to contacting patients via telephone to collect data. Results The mean satisfaction level with the service provided was 8.28. The total post-operative complication rate was 35% with a 25% post operative surgical site infection rate. There were 2 (3.3%) admissions to hospital secondary to penile abscesses and possible skin necrosis of which both required drainage in theatre. The average length of admission for these patients was 2.5 days. 3 (5%) patients were unhappy with cosmesis, and 2 patients have had/are awaiting a redo circumcision. Conclusions Through this new initiative 76 patients have been removed from the NHS waiting lists for circumcision thereby reducing waiting times with very high patient satisfaction. This indicates that this new initiative could be trialled in other departments and could also be used to reduce waiting lists for other minor procedures.