Determining the appropriate use of Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS) to manage upper-limb trauma injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentre retrospective observational study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique opportunity to explore the use of Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS), which remains novel for many service providers. This study assesses the factors that affect adaptation to remote monitoring of patients after upper-limb trauma injury. A standardised risk-stratified screening tool is further developed here to support clinical staff in both the determination of appropriate use of TECS and the optimisation of patient care.

Clinical decision making in the provision of audiovisual care for upper limb trauma: a survey of UK experiences.

Introduction: For many patients, audio-visual appointments have provided a timely and efficient way of seeking advice, assessment and treatment for their hand injuries during the NHS response to COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the experience of hand units across the UK in determining the safe and judicious use of audio-visual outpatient care for the management of acute upper limb trauma.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was sent to the therapy leads of hand units across the UK.

Upskilling the surgical workforce for vascular access provision during the COVID-19 pandemic - The Salisbury experience.

A vascular access device is defined as a catheter inserted into veins allowing fluids and medicines to be delivered intravenously. The need for such devices in acutely unwell patients has remained steady throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe here our experience of up-skilling the resident plastic surgery and maxillofacial surgical registrars to provide a vascular access service to reduce the workload on our intensive care colleagues.