Growing backlog of planned surgery due to covid-19
Andrew Carr, James Smith, Jennifer Camaradou, Daniel Prieto‐Alhambra
Abstract
Covid-19 continues to have a severe effect on planned surgery in the UK, and dealing with the resulting backlog is a critical concern for the NHS. Data from NHS England show that the number of patients awaiting treatment hit a record high of 4.46 million in November 2020, 1 with the number of referrals well below 2019 levels. The same data suggest that roughly 2.3 million people are currently waiting for surgical care.
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)MedicineWaiting listMedical emergencySurgeryVirologyPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakDiseaseTransplantationCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsDiversity and Career in MedicineHealthcare Systems and Challenges