More than 4 in 10 anaesthetists are not convinced their hospitals would be able to provide safe services should there be a second wave of COVID-19, a new survey has indicated.
A survey of members of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCOA) showed 44% of respondents were not confident their hospitals would be able to provide safe covid and non-covid services should there be a second surge of infections.
The survey also showed levels of mental distress and morale were worsening among anaesthetists – many of whom were drafted into intensive care units during the first wave. Almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) said they had suffered mental distress in the last month due to the pressures faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now the college is calling on the NHS to plan intensively for a second covid wave and to identify, train and maintain the skills of cross-specialty “reservists” – including current clinicians, recent retirees and senior trainees — who can support the health service in the event of future surges.
One anaesthetist told the RCOA they were “exhausted with constantly having to think about covid and protecting yourself” and “struggling with the realisation that PPE is here to stay for some time.” Another said: “We have burned out our human resource. We need a period of rebuilding or patient harm will result.”
Read full story (paywalled)
Source: HSJ, 22 July 2020
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment