ArticleAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2022
The persistent challenges faced by vascular surgery services during the UK coronavirus pandemic: a snapshot qualitative survey.
Article in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Decellularized dermis allograft for the treatment of venous leg ulceration: the DAVE RCT.The British journal of surgery · 2025Trial
- [Operating room management in a tertiary care center before and during the COVID-19 pandemic].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Intermittent claudication services in England: insights from a freedom of information request.BMC health services research · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect the NHS. The Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN) COvid Vascular sERvice (COVER) study has prospectively shown the significant global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the way in which this second wave has affected surgeons' ability to treat patients with urgent vascular conditions, using contemporaneous snapshot data from 30 UK vascular centres.
methodsThis is a contemporary (18-28 January 2021) re-run of the Tier 1 COVER survey. This used closed and open questions, related to centres' provision of common vascular services, threshold for treatment, imaging, screening, staff and theatre availability, multidisciplinary team input, clinics, personal protective equipment, vaccination policies and case-backlogs. The survey was disseminated to clinicians via email. A service reduction score was calculated.
resultsForty-two complete responses were received from 30 vascular centres (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). Overall, 56.7% of units are performing only urgent procedures. The threshold for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has increased in the majority of UK centres (60%). One in six AAA screening programmes have stopped all screening activity: 30% having a significantly reduced programme and only half running as normal. Waiting lists are increasing for AAA, lower limb revascularisation and venous disease.
conclusionOverall, these data suggest that vascular care in the NHS is facing unprecedented pressures due to COVID-19. Vascular stakeholders will have to urgently address these issues in the coming months. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN 80453162 (registered prospectively).
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