RIVERLANDERS have regained access to essential elective surgery after the Federal Government announced it would ease restrictions late last month.
Overdue rural and paediatric surgeries have been identified as priorities by the State Government.
Following a meeting of the National Cabinet in late April, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced category two and some important category three procedures could recommence starting last week.
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network CEO Wayne Champion said the change means any kind of surgery previously performed at the Riverland General Hospital could return, though at a lesser volume.
“We’re aiming to return to about a quarter of the volume of surgery that was put on hold when restrictions came in,” he said.
“The only reason for that is to preserve the stock of protective equipment while allowing those with the highest need to still receive their surgery.
“Surgery for those in a lot of pain, but not life threatening, can now return, and surgery for children, ear nose and throat surgery, dental surgery and others are going to be prioritised.”
Mr Champion said the further lifting of restrictions on medical practice in the region would be determined by the availability of protective equipment.
“There has been a huge injection by the Commonwealth Government of protective equipment from the national stockpile,” he said.
“We are hopeful that we can continue to remove some of these restrictions, because that’s not so much about how much COVID-19 there is in the community as it is about the stock of protective equipment available for medical personnel.”
The State Government has established an expert surgical advisory group to guide the recommencement of elective surgeries in South Australia.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the state’s most senior clinicians will oversee surgery reintroduction over the next two weeks “based on the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), clinicians and surgical pharmaceuticals”.
“We are absolutely committed to gradually returning full elective surgery services as soon as we are able to do so,” he said.
“The formation of this expert group will help ensure that we deliver the best patient care possible as pandemic measures are withdrawn.
“While other restrictions will be with us for a long time, the reintroduction of elective surgery from this week is an encouraging early sign.”
The safe return of elective surgery has been helped by the arrival of millions of PPE items in the last month, the engagement of local company Detmold to produce face masks and a low number of new COVID-19 cases.
“The State Government is keen to maintain broader non-COVID health services wherever it is safe to do so, hence we will be gradually increasing essential surgery by up to 25 per cent,” Mr Wade said.
“Health providers will be required to focus on essential surgeries facing the most urgent need as determined by senior clinicians and based on facilities available, which we know varies hospital by hospital.
“There will be a small number of procedures allowed to start with and overdue paediatric and rural cases will be prioritised.”