The Council of Procedural Specialists (COPS) welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement that the National Cabinet will consider the return of elective surgery at its meeting on Tuesday 21 April 2020.
COPS will work with the Federal Government, State governments and other medical bodies to ensure that the appropriate protocols for a safe return to work for doctors and other health professionals and the welfare of patients are realised.
This will involve co-ordination of C19 testing, agreement on PPE protocols and supply, across medical groups and an appropriate plan to effectively deal with any future community outbreak.
Delays to surgery, however justified, can result in a deterioration of a patient’s clinical condition, as well as creating severe backlogs in the system. It is therefore critical that these delays be minimised and that both public and private hospitals are able to return to normal duties to meet the ongoing demand for surgery, medical treatment, and hospital care.
COPS appreciate the efforts of all those who are working diligently to ensure that Australia has the highest possible standards of patient and health carer safety both during and following the Coronavirus Pandemic.
A/Prof David M Scott
Chairman
Council of Procedural Specialists
Dr Peter Sumich
President
Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
Dr Andrew Hill ONZM
President
Australian & New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery
Dr Mark Jackson
Executive
Australian & New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery
Dr Simon Coffey
Chairman
Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Dr Dimitrios Nikolarakos
President
Australian & New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Dr John Vrazas
President
Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia
Dr Suzi Nou
President
Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Dr Nigel Munday
President
Medical Surgical Assistants Society of Australia
