Surgery blitz to fix backlog
UP TO 2500 patients in the Far North will receive specialist appointments under a State Government $10 million “elective surgery blitz”.
Deputy Premier Dr Steven Miles announced the new measures as part of the “Unite and Recover Plan.”
He estimated up to 500 people “that could have been waiting longer than clinically recommended” would have missed out on screening and testing due to the long wait list for procedures had the measures not been funded.
UP TO 2500 patients in the Far North will receive specialist appointments under a $10 million “elective surgery blitz”.
Deputy Premier Dr Steven Miles announced the new measures as part of the “Unite and Recover Plan.”
“It is our plan to get the state open again ... our plan to catch up on work we were not able to do during the COVID-19 crisis,” Mr Miles said.
“We needed to reserve hospital space and equipment to deal with the cases we thought were coming.”
He estimated up to 500 people “that could have been waiting longer than clinically recommended” would have missed out on screening and testing due to the long wait list for procedures, had the measures not been funded.
The plan will fund 470 additional “elective surgery instances of care”, 750 additional outpatient appointments, 1250 scopes and screens and any surgeries that may arise as a result.
Cairns Hospital executive director of Medical Services Dr Don Mackie said the procedures would range from “minor stuff to joint replacement and bowel surgery”.
“It’s very broad,” Dr Mackie said.
The Cairns and Hinterland currently has 184 people in quarantine as a precaution against COVID-19, including 44 in enforced hotel accommodation.
Dr Miles said the low total number of COVID-19 cases for Cairns – 37 – was a “fantastic result”.
“It is one of the few places in the state where we did not see community transmission.”
He credited the effective testing regime and precautions to allow the implementation of the elective surgery blitz.
“It is a credit to the public health unit at Cairns Hospital that they got on top of that risk of community transmission,” Dr Miles said.
“We can now do that catch up work for those who have waited to long for surgery, for their specialist appointments.”
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said it was critical to concentrate resources on keeping Queenslanders safe.
“Now that we have worked to flatten the curve, our hardworking healthcare staff can get back to delivering non-urgent care for people in Cairns and Far North Queensland,” Mr Healy said.
NOW THAT WE HAVE WORKED TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, OUR HARDWORKING HEALTH CARE STAFF CAN GET BACK TO DELIVERING NON-URGENT CARE ...
CAIRNS MP MICHAEL HEALY