TY - JOUR T1 - Responses of paediatric emergency departments to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a cross-sectional survey study JF - BMJ Paediatrics Open JO - BMJ Paediatrics Open DO - 10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001269 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - e001269 AU - Katy Rose AU - Silvia Bressan AU - Kate Honeyford AU - Zsolt Bognar AU - Danilo Buonsenso AU - Liviana Da Dalt AU - Tisham De AU - Ruth Farrugia AU - Niccolo Parri AU - Rianne Oostenbrink AU - Ian Maconochie AU - Henriette A Moll AU - Damian Roland AU - Luigi Titomanlio AU - Ruud Nijman A2 - , Y1 - 2021/12/01 UR - http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/5/1/e001269.abstract N2 - Objective Understanding how paediatric emergency departments (PEDs) across Europe adapted their healthcare pathways in response to COVID-19 will help guide responses to ongoing waves of COVID-19 and potential future pandemics. This study aimed to evaluate service reconfiguration across European PEDs during the initial COVID-19 wave.Design This cross-sectional survey included 39 PEDs in 17 countries. The online questionnaire captured (1) study site characteristics, (2) departmental changes and (3) pathways for children with acute illness pre and during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic (January–May 2020). Number of changes to health services, as a percentage of total possible changes encompassed by the survey, was compared with peak national SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates, and for both mixed and standalone paediatric centres.Results Overall, 97% (n=38) of centres remained open as usual during the pandemic. The capacity of 18 out of 28 (68%) short-stay units decreased; in contrast, 2 units (7%) increased their capacity. In 12 (31%) PEDs, they reported acting as receiving centres for diverted children during the pandemic.There was minimal change to the availability of paediatric consultant telephone advice services, consultant supervision of juniors or presence of responsible specialists within the PEDs.There was no relationship between percentage of possible change at each site and the peak national SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate. Mixed paediatric and adult hospitals made 8% of possible changes and standalone paediatric centres made 6% of possible changes (p=0.086).Conclusion Overall, there was limited change to the organisation or delivery of services across surveyed PEDs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Data are available upon reasonable request. Data can be made available on reasonable request from the corresponding author Katy Rose at katy.rose2@nhs.net. ER -