IntroductionThe Covid-19 pandemic resulted in nearly 2 million patients being put on waiting lists for elective procedures in the UK. We aim to describe how the COVID-19 Algorithm for Resuming Elective Surgery (CARES) was used to allocate patients to elective theatre lists while factoring in patient safety, risk to healthcare workers and, protection of resources.MethodologyA multidisciplinary team was employed with the task of using CARES to allocate theatre slots to 1169 patients on the waiting list. CARES was used in conjunction with an evidence-based scale for procedural urgency (Levels 1-4) to stratify patients and list them for surgery at one of three ‘COVID-light’ sites i.e. 1. With HDU/ITU access, specialist staff, and equipment, 2. An NHS short-stay surgical unit, 3. A private surgical unit. Incidence of post-operative Covid-19 infection was assessed by looking at positive Covid-19 RT-PCR or CT Chest with characteristic findings performed within 2 weeks of the surgery.Results118 cases were deemed to be Priority 1/2, 222 were Level 3, and 808 were Level 4. In 6 weeks, 355 surgeries were performed, with Urgent and Level 1/2 cases performed soonest (mean 18 days, p < 0.001). 33 high-risk/complex/paediatric patients had surgery at Site 1 and the rest at Sites 2 and 3. No patients contracted COVID-19 within 2 weeks of surgery.ConclusionCARES’ holistic approach enabled equitable and safe resumption of arthroplasty during the pandemic, by stratification and creation of COVID-light sites. It could be applied internationally and across sub-specialties.IntroductionThe Covid-19 pandemic resulted in nearly 2 million patients being put on waiting lists for elective procedures in the UK. We aim to describe how the COVID-19 Algorithm for Resuming Elective Surgery (CARES) was used to allocate patients to elective theatre lists while factoring in patient safety, risk to healthcare workers and, protection of resources.MethodologyA multidisciplinary team was employed with the task of using CARES to allocate theatre slots to 1169 patients on the waiting list. CARES was used in conjunction with an evidence-based scale for procedural urgency (Levels 1-4) to stratify patients and list them for surgery at one of three ‘COVID-light’ sites i.e. 1. With HDU/ITU access, specialist staff, and equipment, 2. An NHS short-stay surgical unit, 3. A private surgical unit. Incidence of post-operative Covid-19 infection was assessed by looking at positive Covid-19 RT-PCR or CT Chest with characteristic findings performed within 2 weeks of the surgery.Results118 cases were deemed to be Priority 1/2, 222 were Level 3, and 808 were Level 4. In 6 weeks, 355 surgeries were performed, with Urgent and Level 1/2 cases performed soonest (mean 18 days, p < 0.001). 33 high-risk/complex/paediatric patients had surgery at Site 1 and the rest at Sites 2 and 3. No patients contracted COVID-19 within 2 weeks of surgery.ConclusionCARES’ holistic approach enabled equitable and safe resumption of arthroplasty during the pandemic, by stratification and creation of COVID-light sites. It could be applied internationally and across sub-specialties.