BAOMS welcomes RCSEng call for ring-fenced hospital beds for planned operations to address backlog
06 October 2020 (Last updated: 6 Oct 2020 11:49)
BAOMS welcomes RCSEng call for ring-fenced hospital beds for planned operations to address enormous backlog
The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) has welcomed the call from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) to ring-fence hospital beds for planned operations to avoid future mass cancellations during a second wave of COVID-19.
BAOMS says oral and maxillofacial (OMFS) units across the UK have limited access to theatres for both elective and semi-elective (facial trauma) cases and are well short of the target of 90% elective surgical capacity for routine operations. This does not affect OMFS cancer patients. OMFS fear that an increase in COVID cases could lead to the cancellation of all normal activity.
Rob Bentley, BAOMS President, said: " We have learnt ways to work with COVID safely and provide elective surgery for our patients. If we create 'protected' theatre and beds we can start to address the enormous backlog generated by the first wave."
For further information and interviews contact: Siân Evans on 020 8674 8921 / 07752 414433 / or BAOMS
Notes to editors
- The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) promotes the advancement of education, research and the development of oral and maxillofacial Surgery in Great Britain, and encourages and assists postgraduate education, study and research.
- More information on the Royal College of Surgeons of England survey Protecting surgery through a second wave
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