The Government Eases Ban on (Some) Elective Surgeries during COVID-19
The Prime Minister today outlined a plan to wean back the restrictions on elective surgery.
Combined with the surgeries that were allowed during the shut-down period we are now in a
position to be able to offer the following operations:
- All skin cancer surgeries
- Breast Reconstruction Surgery – both DIEP flaps and also implant based breast
reconstructions - Medically necessary breast implant removal e.g. For rupture, pain or concern regarding
cancer or ALCL - Medically necessary procedures on those under 18 (such a breast reductions).
- Trauma surgery such as hand injuries, facial trauma (fractures, lacerations) and other
wounds such as skin loss/tears or burns - Any other trauma or cancer reconstructions
The situation will be assessed by the government again on 11 May, and hopefully this will further relax the remaining restrictions on elective surgery.
Face to Face Consultations at Mode Plastic Surgery
For all the services listed above we are now offering face to face consultations but social distancing
rules strictly apply in our practice and patients will be screened via a questionnaire and temperature
check on arrival. We also ask kindly that you arrive alone for any appointments, please see our
previous blog for further information on what we are doing in our office during times of Covid-19.
Our standard consultation fees and Medicare rebates apply to all appointments. Our current office
hours remain Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm – outside these hours feel free to leave us a voicemail
or an email.
We also continue to consult primarily at our flagship office at Gordon. However, as restrictions ease,
we may very soon be in a position to resume consulting at our other locations. At this stage we
tentatively aim to begin consulting at our other locations from May 11.
Are there any operations or services you are unable to offer?
Unfortunately at this stage cosmetic plastic surgery and medispa services such as fillers and
anti-wrinkle treatments are still unable to be offered. However we are able to consult with patients
via phone or video, and will be in touch as soon as the restrictions on these services are lifted.
Changes to tele-health consultations
Telehealth consultations are offered via phone or video for all plastic surgery concerns including
cosmetic surgery. The government has now allowed Medicare rebates to be offered for private
tele-health consultation fees and therefore we have moved to charging the same fees for tele-health
consultations as we do for our face to face consultations. The same amount of time will be dedicated
to your virtual visit, as it would be for a face to face visit. The Medicare rebate you receive is also the
same as what applies to a face to face visit.
When will there be more information?
After the next national cabinet meeting on May 11 regarding elective surgery. If the remaining
restrictions are relaxed, we may seen a near return to normal practice, with more hospitals also able
to open their normal operating list allowing us to offer tailor made solutions for our patients like we
have always done.
Finally we wish to say that now more than ever, we are proud of our community and people for
doing the right thing, flattening the curve, and leading the world in controlling Covid-19 cases. Four
weeks ago we thought the situation would escalate quickly with our hospitals full of sick patients
requiring ICU and ventilator treatment. Fortunately this has not happened, and the return to (some)
elective surgery marks the beginning of returning to some sense of normality.
Well done Australia! We will get through this!
