Elective surgery on hold in SA
Update, Feb 2022: The directive has been lifted and all elective surgery is back to normal in SA. Day surgeries are screening patients and staff to ensure safe surgery.
The SA government have put a temporary hold on all elective surgery due to COVID-19.
I can still see new and existing patients in clinic, but cataract operations are deferred until restrictions are lifted.
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The SA government have put a hold on all elective surgery due to COVID-19.
> Read the announcement and legal directive here
Which eye operations will be put on hold?
Cataract surgery
Pterygium surgery except for suspected cancers
Eyelid surgery except for cancer removal
This applies to all surgeons in South Australia, in the public and private systems.
What does this mean for your surgery?
If you have elective surgery booked, unfortunately your procedure will have to be deferred until the restrictions are lifted. There is no specified end date yet.
Once the restrictions are lifted I will contact all patients to offer new surgery dates, and will arrange extra operating lists to minimise further delays.
If you want to see me in clinic for advice on cataracts, I can still see you for an appointment and make a booking for surgery once the restrictions lifted.
What’s exempted from the restrictions?
Emergency surgery – e.g. acute glaucoma, urgent eye trauma, etc
Non-emergency surgery where a delay would risk permanent vision loss or other harm to a patient – e.g. large cataracts causing eye pressure problems that cannot be treated with drops or tablets
Procedures done in outpatient rooms – e.g. minor eyelid procedures and biopsies
For more information and to discuss whether your surgery is affected by this news, call me on 8273 1600.