Care model dynamics within a regional surgery hub during the COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Care model, team and patient dynamics within a regional hub approach to colorectal cancer surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic
IRAS ID
284416
Contact name
Jamie Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 19 days
Research summary
Healthcare services have been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic but NHS England has tried to maintain urgent surgery, particularly cancer surgery, via regional hubs through a national agreement with the independent sector.
This study will use both quantitative and qualitative methodology to assess the safety and efficacy, alongside patient and staff experiences of a centralised regional hub approach to colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to evaluate the use of this new approach as there may be insights and lessons learned which could help ongoing and future planning of surgical care during the pandemic and beyond.
Quantitative Data:
This aspect of the study will include up to 300 patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery via the North Central and East London Colorectal Surgery (NCEL-CS) hub. Quantitative data will be collected at the regional hub and contributing NHS Trusts. Each patient will be followed up for one year.
For patients, clinical data will be collected covering the conduct and outcomes of their surgical care. This clinical data collection is entirely observational and will not affect clinical care. Follow up data collection for all patients will involve a telephone conversation at 30 and 90 days post-operatively including a quality of life questionnaire.
Qualitative Data:
A subgroup of 50 patients will take part in qualitative data collection via telephone interviews about their experiences of undergoing major surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients will have one interview between 30 to 90 days postoperatively.
A sample of 50 staff working via the NCEL-CS hub will take part in qualitative data collection via telephone interviews about their experiences of performing major surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic via a new regional hub structure. Staff will undertake up to two 30 minute interviews: one whilst undertaking the majority of surgery via the hub and during a transition period back to mainly NHS sites.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0341
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion