Routine operations and surgery have resumed!
Some requirements are still necessary before admission and surgery:
1. A risk assessment must be made for possible exposure to Covid-19. I have set up an easy online Risk Survey that you can complete for me: https://forms.gle/6st1gwLYjX1YV9iP9 It is always a good starting point to know the chance of recent exposure.
2. A negative Covid-19 test of a nasal and throat swab is a prerequisite (the exact requirements vary from hospital to hospital). The cost of this is R850 from private pathologists. Covid-19 has been classified as a PMB condition. Medical Aids are therefor bound to pay for this test if it has been requested by a doctor, even for pre-operative assessment and even if the test is negative. The test should preferably be done 2 days before the planned operation due to the average time to obtain results. The test is fairly reliable, but there is a phase between exposure and onset of symptoms that can be false negative.
3. Hospitals have designated “green” (or Covid-free) wards where only patients with negative Covid tests are admitted. For my part and for the hospital, we try our utmost to ensure your safety. However, there is always a risk of getting exposure before, during or after hospitalization without being aware of it. For this reason, it is also a requirement that you sign consent / disclaimer for treatment during the Covid-19 epidemic. For your convenience, I have included a link for consent and disclosure below.
4. To further reduce the exposure risk, you need to strictly adhere to your own self disciplne and safety measures while you are in the hospital: wear your mask, don’t roam around if not necessary, sanitize your hands whenever you have touched anything which is not your own.
If you think that you might need an operation from Dr. Eras van der Walt, please make an appointment with us in order to look into your problem. From there we will discuss the need for surgery, all the risks, complications and alternative forms of treatment and start all the necessary arrangements.
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