As the national cabinet meets today to discuss whether a halt on elective surgeries is lifted, rural hospitals are warning that adequate personal protective equipment needs to be provided.
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The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has put forward proposals for the resumption of elective surgery, after all but the most urgent operations had been suspended to help deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
AMA president Tony Bartone said, "it would be logical to restart procedures at low risk of spreading COVID-19 and of high benefit to the patient."
However, Rural Doctors Association (RDA) president Dr John Hall said it was absolutely essential that rural and regional hospitals had adequate PPE to accommodate a return to elective surgery.
"We are still getting reports from our doctors on the ground that they are concerned that their PPE is in short supply and that they are not be sufficiently equipped to deal with COVID-19 cases coming through the door," Dr Hall said.
We are still getting reports from our doctors on the ground that they are concerned that their PPE is in short supply and that they are not sufficiently equipped to be able to deal with the COVID-19 cases coming through the door.
- Dr John Hall
Dr Hall believes if there is to be a relaxation of the elective surgery conditions in metropolitan and larger regional areas it must not come at the expense of PPE supplies to the bush.
"The concern is that if there is a big demand for masks and gowns and shields and gloves, which are used in routine surgery, and we would not want that to jeopardise the supplies being provided to people to manage COVID-19 cases in large rural hospitals and remote outposts," he said.
"I'm sure many of my metropolitan colleagues would share this concern,"
"We've had a number of reports about supplies of PPE and we must be prepared to deal with the surge in COVID-19 patients which has been predicted.
"Low stores might not last a week if it continues the way it is going."
Dr Hall said the RDA recognised the government has pulled out all stops in terms of sourcing PPE and were aware they had recently taken delivery of millions of masks and other equipment.
He said this was welcome news and the RDA was watching to make sure it was distributed equitably.
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