COVID-19 has already resulted in significant disruption in surgical practice in Irish hospitals. The log book numbers of Trainees are indicative of this.  However, many patients will still require emergency or urgent surgery.

The National Clinical Programmes office published, a Guide for Prioritisation of Urgent Scheduled Surgical Conditions, the first edition published in May 2020 and the latest update to the Otolaryngology Section added in February 2021.

The document was developed by the RCSI National Clinical Programme in Surgery and sets out the prioritisation of urgent scheduled surgical conditions that require surgical intervention within a 2-month timeframe. The document also sets out cases that can be deferred and alternative therapies that can be considered during the COVID-19 restrictions.

 The full document from the National Clinical Programmes Office can be found here;  NCPS Guide for Prioritisation of Urgent Scheduled Surgical Conditions