349 How a Service Evaluation Carried Out by Junior Doctors Helped the Post Pandemic Management of Lumps and Bumps

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract Aim The GI surgery department deals with many clinical conditions including lumps and bumps that affect the torso, posterior neck, groin, buttock, perianal and perineal areas. Over the pandemic it was noted that there were many referrals for ‘lumps and bumps’ at a time where theatre capacity and staffing was limited. To create a referral pathway to assess patients for suitability for referral and treatment in the secondary care setting/ to determine which lesions were suitable for treatment in the community. Method A review of 374 cases of lumps and bumps referred between 2019 and 2021. Various patient factors were taken in to account, as well as the size and type of lesion to determine whether it could be managed in the community under local anaesthetic. Results Of the total cases, 45% were deemed to be suitable for treatment in community. Of all lesion types, epidermoid cysts were most suitable for GP treatment. Patients were travelling long distances to reach the hospital and we were treating patients outside our catchment area. We also found that the average waiting time from referral until treatment for lesions managed in community was nearly 9 times shorter than when managed in the hospital setting. Conclusions A new referral pathway was created for all of South East London to reduce the number of lumps and bumps referred. This ultimately allowed for increased theatre capacity for more complex cases, ensured faster treatment and reduced travel distances for patients.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.