March 31, 2020
In a welcomed move, the Australian government is partnering with the private hospital sector to quickly expand the available resources to manage Australia’s COVID–19 crisis. 657 private and not-for-profit hospitals will now join the front line of the coronavirus battle. This partnership frees up more than 30,000 beds and more than 57,000 nursing staff.
“In an unprecedented move, private hospitals, including both overnight and day hospitals, will integrate with State and Territory health systems in the COVID-19 response,” said a government spokesperson on Tuesday.
By offering agreements to the private and not-for-profit sector, it will “ensure their viability, in return for maintenance and capacity” during the pandemic crisis.
This agreement not only makes readily available more resources for the pandemic crisis but preserves the private hospital workforce and allows for a speedy return to non-essential procedures and normal activities once the crisis has passed.
Last week, on 25 March, the Australian government banned all non-essential services. While medical professionals praised this decision for preserving the health and safety of staff and public, freeing up beds, PPE and medical personnel, the decision could also have threatened the collapse of some private hospitals without government action.
The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery has also lauded this decision by the Australian government, as it “recognises the fundamental and heroic roles of our medical and nursing staff.”
Private hospital support
Through this new arrangement, costing approximately $1.3 billion (uncapped), private hospitals will support the COVID-19 pandemic response by the following:
- Accommodating category one (urgent) elective surgery
- Providing the use of theatres and wards to expand ICU capacity
- Providing hospital services for (both positive and negative COVID-19) public patients
- Providing accommodation for quarantine and isolation cases where necessary, and training and safety procedures are in place, including:
- isolation of infected vulnerable COVID-19 patients
- flight and cruise COVID-19 passengers
- quarantine of vulnerable members of the community
Registered day procedure centre The Clinic of Cosmetic Medicine South Yarra, and cosmetic surgeon Dr Joni Feldman welcome this agreement, which opens our facilities for the most vulnerable in this extraordinary time.
Currently, Dr Feldman is not treating patients for elective procedures such as liposuction, threads and cosmetic injectables until the AHPPC and the Australian government deems appropriate.
For more information about the Clinic of Cosmetic Surgery or any enquiries, please contact Dr Joni Feldman on (03) 9824 2500, or click on the enquiry tab below.