Abstract
BackgroundWe undertook a prospective qualitative survey to ascertain the perceptions and experience of National Health Service patients in the United Kingdom who underwent planned or elective procedures and surgery at alternate ‘clean’ hospital sites during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These alternate ‘clean’ hospital sites were independent hospitals running active staff and patient testing programmes for COVID-19 and which did not admit or treat patients suffering with COVID-19.MethodsA prospective survey was undertaken to include patients at least 30 days after a planned surgery or procedure conducted at a ‘clean’ alternate hospital site during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted using structured interviews undertaken by trained assessors. A 20% sample group of patients were randomly selected to participate in this study. Qualitative data related to confidence, safety and perceptions of safety were collected.ResultsNinety-five patients (60%) reported that they had prior worries or concerns about undergoing an elective procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 47 patients (30%) had delayed their surgery at least once because of these concerns. A total of 150 patients (95%) felt that the precautions in place to protect their safety in the setting of an alternate ‘clean’ hospital site were well thought out and proportionate. Patients reported high levels of confidence in the measures undertaken. Separation of patient pathways using the independent sector and patient testing were identified by patients as having the greatest impact on their perception of safety.ConclusionsPatient confidence will be key to ensuring uptake of planned and elective procedures and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceptions of safety will be key to this confidence and efforts to demonstrably enhance safety are well received by patients. In particular, patients felt that a dedicated programme of patient testing and separation of patient pathways provided the greatest levels of confidence in the safety of their treatment.
Highlights
Patient perception of safety has been shown to impact on their likelihood to accept treatment, levels of patient satisfaction and on final patient treatment outcomes [1]
Patient confidence will be key to ensuring uptake of planned and elective procedures and surgery during the Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic
Perceptions of safety will be key to this confidence and efforts to demonstrably enhance safety are well received by patients
Summary
Patient perception of safety has been shown to impact on their likelihood to accept treatment, levels of patient satisfaction and on final patient treatment outcomes [1]. The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the suspension of programmes of planned investigation and treatment for patients worldwide [2] This includes cancer care as well as urgent cardiac, orthopaedic and gynaecologic surgical and diagnostic procedures. We undertook a prospective qualitative survey to ascertain the perceptions and experience of National Health Service patients in the United Kingdom who underwent planned or elective procedures and surgery at alternate ‘clean’ hospital sites during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic These alternate ‘clean’ hospital sites were independent hospitals running active staff and patient testing programmes for COVID-19 and which did not admit or treat patients suffering with COVID-19
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