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Introduction There is paucity of data around the support that medical students have been provided with, need to be provided with, and would like to be provided with during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students and establish the support they require. Methods A prospective, observational, multicentre study was conducted in 2020. All medical students and interim foundation year 1 doctors were eligible to participate. Results Six hundred forty individuals participated from 32 medical schools. Participants reported a drop in their mood following the onset of the pandemic (p < 0.001). This drop in mood was evident in both May and August. Participants did have an improved mood in August compared to May (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in pandemic disease-anxiety (13.8/20 to 12.4/20, p < 0.001) and consequence-anxiety (6.3/10 to 6.0/10, p < 0.001) between May and August. Nineteen percent of participants (n = 111/596, 19%) had not received the support they needed from their university by August. The most common area of support that our participants needed and had not received from their medical schools by August was support with course material (n = 58/111, 52%). ‘Clinical knowledge’ was thought to have been affected by the greatest number of participants in both May and August. Conclusion Medical students’ mental well-being has been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings have actionable implications that can better protect medical students as they acclimatise to a working environment that has been radically changed by COVID-19.

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Introduction Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones. The British Association of Day Surgery (BADS) recommend that at least 60% of LCs are performed as day cases. We investigated the rate of successful discharge for LCs and factors contributing to unexpected overnight stays. Methods Retrospective data analysis was performed on elective LCs between June-November 2019. Electronic records were reviewed for: admission and discharge date; time of procedure; length of procedure; training grade of the surgeon; use of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) or volatile anaesthesia; use of IV morphine in theatre/recovery and reasons for failed discharge. Results A total of 119 patients underwent elective LC, of which 63 were planned day cases. 46 patients (73.0%) listed as day cases were successfully discharged the same day. LCs performed before 1pm had a success rate of 78.8% compared to 45.5% after 1pm (p &lt; 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in success rates due to length of procedure; training grade of the surgeon; method of induction (TIVA or Volatile) or use of IV morphine in theatre/recovery. 17 planned day cases failed same day discharge. 7 of these patients (41.2%) reported pain and 4 (23.3%) reported nausea, vomiting or dizziness. Conclusion This centre successfully discharged 73.0% of planned day case LCs, although only 52.9% of elective LCs were listed as day cases. Success rates were positively associated with am procedures compared to pm. We recommend a review of operation scheduling and evening staffing in order to increase the probability of discharge on the same day.