Care pathways and healthcare management in a COVID-19 triage psychiatric inpatient ward at south london and maudsley nhs foundation trust

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has enforced the restructuring of inpatient psychiatric services. In the UK, the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has introduced a triage ward system to ensure all patients have a COVID test prior to admission to the general ward with the aim to reduce COVID transmission amongst psychiatric inpatients. Objectives: To characterise the flow of patients through a COVID- 19 psychiatric triage ward and the protocol of assessment and management used. Methods: Descriptive analysis of patients admitted to a COVID-19 triage ward since its creation. Results: The caseload of patients admitted to the COVID-19 triage ward since its inception will be presented. This will include the profile of patients admitted, their status (formal/informal) and their acceptance of COVID-19 tests. The protocol followed at this COVID-19 triage ward will be presented, and the challenges faced and suggestions to overcome them will be discussed. Conclusions: This presentation aims to share the workflow and protocols adopted at a COVID-19 triage ward in the UK, discussing challenges experienced as well as good practices.