A study led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the Canary Islands Health Service reveals that the abandonment rate in A&E at Hospital Doctor Negrín decreased from 4% to 2.6% during the 2020 lockdown.
A joint study by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the Canary Islands Health Service, and Italian universities has analysed how the covid-19 pandemic changed patient behaviour in A&E. The research, focused on the University Hospital Doctor Negrín in Gran Canaria and the hospital in Ancona (Italy), reveals that during the lockdown, people were less likely to leave without being seen.
From 4% to 2.6%: the drop during the lockdown
At Hospital Negrín, the abandonment rate in A&E fell from 4% in the same period of 2019 to 2.6% during the 2020 lockdown. In 2021, with no restrictions, the figure returned to 4%.
The researchers compared data between March 14 and May 10, 2020, in Gran Canaria, and between March 9 and May 3 in Italy. In both hospitals, the pattern was similar: fewer patients left without seeing a doctor.
The study indicates that men aged between 17 and 43 with a low triage code were the most likely to abandon. Triage is the initial assessment that determines the urgency of each case.
Lessons to reduce pressure on healthcare
The pressure on A&E is a chronic problem in public health systems. The authors of the study believe that this data can help design measures to alleviate it.
According to the researchers, public and professional awareness of appropriate care pathways is key. They also point to the need to improve the organisation of Primary Care to refer mild cases.
For the citizens of Gran Canaria, this means that going to A&E only when truly necessary can expedite care for everyone. The study reminds us that during the lockdown, by prioritising serious cases, waiting times were reduced.
The complete results of the study have been published in a scientific journal and will serve as a basis for future health policies in the Canary Islands.
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