Interim Guidance last updated 27 March 2020

On this page

1. Context
2. Elective surgery
3. Outpatient clinics

Context

Public health recommendations have been issued related to the risk of COVID-19 infection: people who have been overseas in the last 14 days or who have been in contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 while infectious must self-isolate for 14 days following last contact.

The following advice regarding elective surgery and outpatient clinics reflect these recommendations.

Elective surgery

All non-urgent elective surgery is temporarily suspended. Only Category 1 and some exceptional Category 2 surgery will continue until further notice.

For urgent surgery only, staff are required to ask patients at the time of booking confirmation if they have:

Note: if the patient has fever or acute respiratory illness ask that they seek health advice (from their GP or by calling healthdirect on 1800 022 222) to exclude COVID-19 as well as to resolve any other health issues.

Outpatient clinics

Before attendance at outpatients

• Develop a system, prior to attendance (e.g. phone call, SMS), to ask patients whether they’ve been overseas or have had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 while infectious, in the 14 days before the scheduled outpatient appointment.
• If the patient meets the above criteria:
• consider alternate of methods of conducting the appointment if appropriate (e.g. telephone or tele-medicine)
• if it is not possible to conduct the appointment in an alternate way, reschedule their appointment unless it is medically necessary
• reschedule the appointment for as soon as possible after the 14 day exclusion
• remind them they are to self-isolate at home for 14 days after they returned or if they have had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 while infectious
  
• remind them if they develop respiratory symptoms or fever to call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 or call their GP.
• Note, facilities will need to develop a system to implement the above steps, including appointing an appropriate person to assess whether or not it’s safe to defer the outpatient appointment.

During outpatient attendance

• Consider options to identify patients in the outpatient clinic waiting room, e.g.
• waiting room signage
• asking patients at reception whether they have been overseas in the last 14 days or have had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 while infectious, in the previous 14 days
• For patients who meet the above criteria:
• ask the patient to wear a surgical mask
• ask the patient if they have any respiratory symptoms or fever.
• For patients who meet the above criteria within 14 days of their appointment and who do not report any respiratory symptoms or fever:
• the attending doctor should make a clinical assessment about the presence of respiratory symptoms
• if no symptoms/signs continue the outpatient consultation as normal, with the patient wearing a surgical mask
• remind the patient that they should self-isolate themselves at home for 14 days after they returned or have had contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 while infectious.
• For patients who meet the above criteria and who report symptoms manage the patient in conjunction with the emergency department as per the clinician guidance.
• Other guidance: ensure availability of surgical masks and hand hygiene facilities