Operations and Performance Initiative of the Year

Covid-19 Pandemic NHS and independent treatment centre collaborated orthopaedic Trauma services reconfiguration project : Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the National Health Service (NHS) is unprecedented. In these extraordinary circumstances, it is a challenge to provide the best possible care for all trauma patients presenting with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related conditions. We provide trauma and orthopaedic care to around 800000 local population in Barking, Havering and Redbridge councils. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all elective orthopaedic operations were cancelled and acute orthopaedic wards were reassigned to medical wards. In collaboration with the private sector, we established a ‘COVID-free’ site in an unused elective orthopaedic unit, previously without any trauma inpatient services.