The Minister for Health has announced that some elective surgeries have recommenced this week, in line with the Federal Government’s policy change as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the decision to reinstate elective surgery in a careful and staged approach was made possible due to the success of public health measures implemented in response to COVID-19.
“We will closely monitor and review the impact of elective surgery over the next few weeks to ensure it does not compromise the Territory’s preparedness to meet demand for public hospital services,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“While we would love to conduct even more elective surgeries, we need to ensure we are doing so safely and preserving our Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) supplies,” she said.
“This is to ensure we can protect staff and patients should we experience an outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said patients from the public wait lists had been scheduled on the basis of clinical urgency.
She said the resumption of elective surgery activities covered all Category 2 and selected Category 3 procedures, including IVF; screening programs (cancer and other diseases); post cancer reconstruction procedures; procedures for children under 18; joint replacements; cataracts and eye procedures; and endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures.
“Category 1 surgeries and procedures were not affected by the previous National Cabinet Decision,” she said.
Ms Stephen-Smith said patients whose elective surgery had been confirmed and booked would be contacted directly by the relevant hospital.
