ASOHNS News

ASOHNS 2021 Society Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of 2021 Society Medal who were announced at the Annual Scientific Meeting Virtual Meeting 2021.

For Distinguished Contribution to the Art and Science of Otolaryngology:

• Dr Hannah Burns.       

For Distinguished Service to ASOHNS:

• Dr Stanley Stylis

RACS RURAL SURGEONS AWARD:

• Dr Bal Krishan FRACS

2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List

ASOHNS Federal Members, the SA State Executive, members and Secretariat are very pleased to advise that a member was acknowledged in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Congratulations to Dr Michael Schultz (SA), awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for service to medicine as a surgeon.

RACS ESR Hughes Award 2020

ASOHNS would like to congratulate Dr Neil Valance on being awarded the ESR Hughes Award (RACS) for 2020

RACS 2020 Awards

ASOHNS is pleased to congratulate two members who have been announced as recipients of RACS awards.

The ESR Hughes Award is awarded for distinguished contributions to surgery by RACS Fellows and others and for 2020 this was awarded to Dr Neil Vallance (Victoria).

The Rural Surgeons Award is an award acknowledging significant contributions to surgery in rural settinigs in Austrralia and New Zealand. Dr Bal Krishan is the 2020 recipient.

The awards are due recognition of their services and dedication to their patients and our speciality.  

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT - Minister for Health and President, Australian Medical Association

Please click on the following link to access the Joint Media Statement ( 9 September 2020) from The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Dr Omar Khorshid, President, Australian Medical Association - Additional Commonwealth Support to Protect Healthcare Workers from COVID -19

ANZSPO BUTTON BATTERIES IN CHILDREN: UPDATE ON CURRENT MANAGEMENT

Please click here to access the current statement from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ANZSPO) aiming to update members on the current management of button batteries in children.

Thank you,

Paul Walker MBBS PhD FRACS FACS OAM

President ANZSPO

2020 QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOUR LIST RECIPIENTS

ASOHNS Federal Members, the NSW State Section Executive, members and Secretariat are very pleased to advise that two members have been acknowledged in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Congratulation to  Dr John Curotta (NSW), awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, and to Indigenous health.

Congratulations to Conjoint Professor Paul Walker (NSW), awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for service to paediatric medicine, and to professional organisations.

AHPCC STATEMENT ON RESTORATION OF ELECTIVE SURGERY

Please click here to access the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on restoration of elective surgery.

https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-health-protection-principal-committee-ahppc-statement-on-restoration-of-elective-surgery

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