• Orla Fitzpatrick, Roisin Ní Dhonaill, Anna Linehan, Zac Coyne, Maeve Hennessy, Maeve Clarke, Elizabeth McGee, Fiona Barrett, Deborah O'Doherty, Carla Matassa, Teresa Doyle, Allyson Christie, Bryan Hennessy, Liam Grogan, Patrick G Morris, Oscar S Breathnach, and Darren Cowzer.
• Medical Oncology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. orlafitzpatrick@rcsi.com.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Apr 1; 191 (2): 559-562.

BackgroundThe first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ireland was on February 29th 2020. From March until late April, the number of cases increased exponentially. The delivery of anti-cancer therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic was extremely challenging. In order to balance the benefits of continuing anti-cancer therapy with the associated increased hospital visits, combined with the risk of COVID-19 infection, we undertook a series of system changes in the delivery of cancer care.MethodsPatients who attended our dayward over a 4-month period were included. Data were obtained from patient and chemotherapy prescribing records. Patients were screened for symptoms of COVID-19 at two separate timepoints: prior to their visit via telephone, and using a symptom questionnaire on arrival at the hospital. If patients displayed COVID-19 symptoms, they were isolated and a viral swab arranged.ResultsA total of 456 patients attended from January 1st to April 30th. The numbers of visits from January to April were 601, 586, 575, and 607, respectively. During this period, there were 2369 patient visits to the dayward and 1953 (82%) intravenous regimens administered. Of the 416 visits that did not lead to treatment, 114 (27%) were scheduled non-treatment review visits, 194 (47%) treatments were held due to disease-related illness, and 108 (26%) treatments were held due to treatment-related complications. Screening measurements were implemented on March 18th due to rising COVID-19 prevalence in the general population. Overall, 53 treatments were held due to the screening process: 19 patients (36%) elicited COVID-19 symptoms via telephone screening; 34 patients (64%) were symptomatic in our pre-assessment area and referred for swabs, of which 4 were positive. Those with a negative swab were rescheduled for chemotherapy the following week.ConclusionsWith careful systematic changes, safe and continued delivery of systemic anti-cancer therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic is possible.© 2021. The Author(s).

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