General News
21 April, 2020
PM announces lifting of some surgery restrictions.
Today Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the lifting on some of the restrictions on hospitals, dentists and selective elective surgery.
Today Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the lifting on some of the restrictions on hospitals, dentists and selective elective surgery.
The Prime Minister said National Cabinet agreed to a "gradual restart" of elective surgery after Anzac Day.
This included IVF and joint replacement surgery for children under the age of 18.
Other procedures to have restrictions lifted include eye procedures, endoscopy and colonoscopies, post-cancer procedures such as breast reconstruction and some dental work including fitting dentures and braces.
Upon reopening, priority will be given to the neediest patients first, based on surgical advice of the medical facility where elective surgery is scheduled.
The Prime Minister added "There is a road ahead and the decisions that the National Cabinet has taken today is evidence of that," Mr Morrison said.
"This would not be possible if we were unable to secure additional PPE nor would it be possible if we were not able to have confidence about the level of contact, of cases that had been identified in Australia and the slowing the rate of growth down to a minimal level."
"This will not mean an immediate return to normal with elective surgery, but a gradual restart, subject of course to capacity and other constraints that may exist in each jurisdiction," Mr Morrison said.
"We estimate that this will lead to a reopening of around 25 per cent of activity in elective surgery in our private and public hospitals."
The Prime Minister said there were now fewer than 2,500 active cases of people with coronavirus in Australia.
The surgery rules will be reviewed again in May.
