Plastic Physicians: The surgical salamanders of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract At the time of writing, COVID-19 has affected 6.42 million people globally and over 380,000 deaths, with the United Kingdom now having the highest death rate in Europe. The Plastic Surgery Department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals put necessary steps in place to maintain an excellent urgent elective and acute service whilst also managing COVID-positive medical patients on the ward. We describe the structures and pathways implemented together with complex decision making which has allowed us to respond early and effectively. We hope these lessons will prove a useful tool as we look to open conversations around recovery of normal activity.