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. 2020 Jun 26;3(1):41.
doi: 10.1186/s42155-020-00133-2.

Response of UK interventional radiologists to the COVID-19 pandemic - survey findings

Sammy Rostampour  1 , Trevor Cleveland  2 , Hilary White  3 , Philip Haslam  4 , Ian McCafferty  5 , Mo Hamady  6
Affiliations

Response of UK interventional radiologists to the COVID-19 pandemic - survey findings

Sammy Rostampour et al. CVIR Endovasc. .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect upon the National Health Service (NHS). Like other specialties, Interventional Radiology (IR) rapidly adapted to the evolving situation. Members of BSIR were surveyed to obtain a snapshot of the experiences of UK IRs in response to COVID-19. An electronic survey was compiled using Google Forms, approved by the BSIR Council Officers and distributed to BSIR members by email on 18 th April 2020. A total of 228 responses were received. The survey was open for a 14-day period and the data analysed in Microsoft Excel 365. The response rate was 29% (228/800).

Results: Two thirds of respondents work in a Tertiary unit and 33% deliver IR in a District Hospital. 84% have a day-case facility. After the COVID-19 crisis, 81% of respondents were able to maintain 24-7 On-call service. 59% of respondents had been required change their day to day practice to allow the on-call service to continue. 55% of respondents were involved in providing a central line service. Of those questioned, 91% continued to offer endovascular services, 98% genitourinary and 92% hepatobiliary services, although a degree of service reduction was described. 38% have provided IR trainees with additional training material during this pandemic.

Conclusions: This survey has confirmed that the responses of UK IR departments to the COVID-19 crisis have ensured vital on-call and urgent services have continued, including ongoing availability of most IR sub-specialties. Availability of a day case facility has possibly influenced the positive response.

Keywords: COVID-19; Endovascular; Interventional radiology; Survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
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Type of IR unit of survey responders
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Location of survey respondents
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Availability of on call service and day case facility
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Fig. 4
Provisions of central line service in response to COVID-19
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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