ASOHNS News

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE FROM BRENDAN MURPHY AND NICK COATSWORTH AUTHORISED BY GREG HUNT, THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH

Dear Members / Trainees

Please see message below and a link to the joint media statement from Brendan Murphy & Nick Coatsworth, authorised by Greg Hunt, on the easing of certain elective surgery restrictions. 

We will be in touch with further detail as this becomes available.

Kind regards,

Federal Secretariat 

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Click here for the full media release in PDF

Minister Hunt’s office issued the media release regarding the easing of elective surgery restrictions.

The Prime Minister’s office has also issued a media statement, Update on Coronavirus Measures, that includes the following section about elective surgery.

Elective surgery

National Cabinet received up-to-date data on the stock of personnel protective equipment (PPE) in the National Medical Stockpile, and PPE held by state and territory health systems. PPE stocks and other equipment such as ventilators are now largely sufficient to meet expected demand for Australia’s COVID19 response through to December 2020, with current social distancing and travel restriction measures in place. 

National Cabinet noted that the National Medical Stockpile does not replace state, territory or private processes to source and deliver PPE to meet their needs. To date, the National Medical Stockpile has dispatched over 22 million masks primarily to state and territories, GP’s, Community Pharmacy, ACHHOS and aged care, with a further 11.5 million being dispatched this week.

Unnecessarily delaying elective surgeries can worsen health outcomes, increase anxiety and reduce social and economic productivity. 

As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and equivalent procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors. 

As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and some important category 3 procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors. 

National Cabinet further agreed that the following procedures can recommence from 27 April 2020:

·         IVF

·         Screening programs (cancer and other diseases)

·         Post cancer reconstruction procedures (such as breast reconstruction)

·         Procedures for children under 18 years of age.

·         Joint replacements (incl knees, hips, shoulders)

·         Cataracts and eye procedures

·         Endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures

PPE stocks for these elective surgeries and procedures will not be taken from the National Medical Stockpile.

It is estimated that a gradual restart of elective surgeries will see 1 in 4 closed elective surgery operating lists reopen, with flexibility for states to determine the appropriate levels of elective surgery within this general framework.

Reintroduction of elective surgery in a staged manner balances the ongoing need for the capacity to treat COVID-19 patients, while allowing our hospitals to treat elective surgery patients.

These arrangements will be reviewed by 11 May 2020, to determine if other elective surgeries and procedures can recommence and volumes increased.

National Cabinet further agreed to the Australian Dental Association recommendation that dentists move to level 2 restrictions (such as fitting dentures, braces, non-high speed drill fillings and basic fillings), allowing a broader range of dental interventions to occur where the risk of transmission can be managed and PPE stocks procured by the private sector.

National Cabinet again thanked Australia’s health care professionals for their work to support our COVID-19 response.

Kind regards,

Ben Houston

Acting Director – Health Communication

Communication and Change Branch | People, Communication and Parliamentary Division

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02.6289.5745 | E: benjamin.houston@health.gov.au

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601

Level 3 Sirius Building North, Furze St. Woden ACT

The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present. 

MBS UPDATE 20 APRIL 2020

A further update to MBS Telehealth Items has been made by the Department of Health effective from 20 April 2020.

The amendment removes the requirement for specialists to bulk-bill patients.

For further detail, please refer to MBS Online - Please click here

ASM VIRTUAL CONGRESS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

RE: ASOHNS ASM 2020 – Important Information

Please see below some important information relating to the ASOHNS Annual Scientific Meeting.

Virtual Meeting

Please be advised, the meeting will not be broadcast live. The presentations will be available online in four weeks. 

To access the presentations, a registration fee will apply. If you have already registered for the ASM, the ASOHNS registration team will automatically transfer your registration across to this new category and refund the difference.

For Full members and Non-Members, the fee will be $550 (inc GST). 

For Medical Students / Junior Doctors / Registrars, the fee will be $440 (inc GST).

If you do not wish to have access to the virtual meeting, please email asohnsasm@surgeons.org by Monday 23 March 2020.

CPD

Fellows who register for the virtual meeting, will be entitled to CPD points. If you do not register for the virtual meeting, then no CPD points will be applied to your RACS portfolio.

Presentations by Registrars / Junior Doctors 

Should you wish to receive a certificate for your oral and/or e-poster, you will need to be registered for the virtual meeting. 

Refunds

If you wish to receive a full refund for your registration, please email asohnsasm@surgeons.org. All refund requests must be submitted by Monday 23 March 2020. Due to the high influx of refund requests, please allow 3-4 weeks for your refund to be processed.

We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

Kind regards

ASOHNS Registration Team

ASM 2020 - CONVERTING TO A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

The Annual Scientific Meeting as a face-to-face conference cannot go ahead as planned. The risk of delegates acquiring COVID-19 is low, but real. 

The risk of holding the conference is likely the same in Sydney as anywhere else in Australia.  However, the risk of a delegate being exposed to COVID-19 at the conference could result in 75% of the ENT’s in Australia and most, if not all, trainees potentially being quarantined for at least 2 weeks. This would be devastating for the healthcare of Australia particularly with the potential problems if the virus does accelerate as predicted.

Therefore, ASOHNS’ Council Federal Executive have made the difficult decision to cancel the face-to-face conference and the Conveners have proposed to take steps to convert the conference in Sydney to a virtual congress. 

The course content will be captured onsite or remotely over the March 13-15^th dates. All those who were presenting will have the opportunity to present their work. Presentations will be collated for broadcast and online access prior to 31 May 2020.

We will be spending the coming days, the dates of the meeting 13-15 March 2020 and a couple of weeks of editing, to deliver an outstanding virtual conference with all the scientific content planned.

Details of how to provide your presentation will be sent separately to all presenters.

The valuable preparation and scientific material will still occur on the conference dates as planned, but without any delegates. 

The online material will be available to all ASOHNS members, trainees and delegates for the purposes of CPD and scientific benefit.

Registration fees to delegates will be refunded upon request to RACS Events management after 15 March 2020.

We will liaise the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons regarding CPD.

If you were scheduled to present at the conference, you will receive a separate email regarding how to submit your presentation, either in person at the ICC, or electronically.

We thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.

If you have a general enquiry, please send to info@asohns.org.au with the Subject line “ASM 2020 Virtual Congress”

We will endeavour to respond within 48 hours.

Registration enquiries should be sent to asohnsasm@surgeons.org

WORLD HEARING DAY 2020: HEARING FOR LIFE: DON'T LET HEARING LOSS LIMIT YOU

World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. 

On World Hearing Day 2020, WHO will highlight that timely and effective interventions can ensure that people with hearing loss are able to achieve their full potential. It will draw attention to the options available in this respect.  

Key messages for World Hearing Day 2020: 

At all life stages, communication and good hearing health connect us to each other, our communities, and the world.

For those who have hearing loss, appropriate and timely interventions can facilitate access to education, employment and communication.

Globally, there is lack of access to interventions to address hearing loss, such as hearing aids.

Early intervention should be made available through the health systems.

Links to flyers for the following:

• WHD Toolkit
• WHD Presentation
• WHD People with Hearing Loss
• WHD Flyer for Parents
• WHD Infographic for Policy Makers

ASOHNS ADVISER ON DIVERSITY

Following the March ASOHNS Council meeting a new co-opted, honorary position of Advisor on Diversity was created on the ASOHNS Council. 

We thank all our members who took the time to submit an Expression of Interest.

The selection sub-committee were extremely pleased with the calibre of candidates, and their experience and willingness to take on the role.  

It is with great pleasure the ASOHNS Federal Council would like to announce that Dr Bridget Clancy FRACS (Victoria) has been offered and accepted the role. 

The Advisor on Diversity will attend Council Meetings and be involved with the oversight and implementation of diversity and inclusion across the society's activities, including Board activities (selection and training), member activities and annual scientific meetings. 

HEARING HEALTH ROADMAP

Australia’s first Hearing Health Roadmap has been created to improve the lives of the millions of Australians affected by hearing loss. 

The Roadmap was reviewed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council on Friday 8th of March, to spearhead a coordinated effort to improve hearing health.

The Roadmap can be accessed here :

https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/CDFD1B86FA5F437CCA2583B7000465DB/$File/Roadmap%20for%20Hearing%20Health.pdf

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY 2019 HONOUR LIST RECIPIENT

ASOHNS Federal Executive, Members and Secretariat would like to congratulate Professor Bruce Black on being awarded the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday 2019 Honours List, for significant services to Otolaryngology and to medical education.

ASOHNS 2019 INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

We would like to announce that Dr Tika Ram Adhikari from Bhutan is the 2019 recipient of the International scholarship from the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (ASOHNS), to attend surgical training courses and to observe Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgeons in Australia.

After a competitive process the committee selected Dr Adhikari from a strong and worthy field of candidates. 

The Royal Government of Bhutan provides its population of 0.7 million free health care through a three-tier system. There are no private hospitals or clinics in Bhutan. Any advanced and complicated diseased that cannot be treated in Bhutan are referred outside the country at government expense.

Dr Adhikari is one of five ENT surgeons who serve the needs of the whole nation and they don't have a trained Otologist in the country to work with the treatment of the approximate 18,000 ear cases they see. The annual health bulletin shows ear disease as among the top diseases across all districts in the country. Dr Adhikari is also a faculty member in the Khesar Gyelpo University of Medical Science of Bhutan actively involved in teaching ENT technicians, nurses, interns and residents. 

While in Australia in November Dr Adhikari will attend a Temporal Bone course in Perth and spend observation time with Professor Peter Friedland. With limited opportunity to upgrade his skill and knowledge at home Dr Adhikari is very pleased to be this year's scholarship recipient. 

ASOHNS 2019 SOCIETY MEDALS

Congratulations to recipients of the 2019 Society Medal who were presented with their medals during the 2019 ASOHNS Annual Scientific Meeting held in Brisbane.

For Distinguished Contribution to the Art and Science of Otolaryngology:

Dr Bal Krishnan

Dr Gerard Fogarty

Certificates of Appreciation:

2019 ASM Co - Convenor, Dr Scott Coman

and

2019 ASM Co - Convenor, Dr Ben Wallwork