Recommendations for maintaining endocrine services during COVID-19

We believe that it is paramount that we continue providing specialty endocrine services in current and future COVID-19 waves for our patients’ safety.

The Future of Endocrinology working group have compiled COVID-19 second wave planning recommendations, so that they may be considered for local implementation.

Key recommendations:

• Endocrine departmental capacity should be left at a minimum of 25% - higher wherever possible.
• Clearly defined roles for specific team members, including nurses, shielding colleagues and registrars.
• Maintaining speciality training for endocrine trainees.
• Integrating working between primary, secondary and tertiary care as much as possible with shared systems.
• Ensuring the primary, secondary and tertiary care centres within a region understand referral routes for patients.
• Identifying patients for whom virtual consultations are appropriate long term.
• Reviewing phlebotomy services, MDTs, work load priorities and using available resources.

Download the full recommendations.

Please send any further ideas of clinical service innovations and efficiencies that you are willing to share, to clinical@endocrinology.org.