Consultations
As our rooms are located within Cabrini Hospital, hospital restrictions and mask requirements may apply at times, as directed by the Department of Health.
For the safety of our patients and staff please do not attend the rooms if you have symptoms of COVID or have tested positive for COVID within the past 7 days. Please note that it is possible to have COVID even if you have a negative RAT result. Please phone our rooms to arrange an alternative appointment. Alternatively a telehealth appointment can be arranged where appropriate. Our staff are happy to discuss options with you and advise. For telehealth consultations we use an encrypted medical platform that is simple to use and does not require you to download any software. Simple, easy to follow instructions are emailed to patients on booking an appointment and our friendly staff are on hand to help you out over the phone if needed.
Symptoms of COVID include:
- Fever or chills
- Breathing difficulties such as breathlessness
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
- Headache, muscle aches
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
If you are unsure whether you should attend the rooms, please stay at home and
phone us on (03) 9923 8070.
If you have symptoms or concerns please phone your General Practitioner (do not attend your general practice unless asked to do so). If you have symptoms, please get tested and follow the instructions of the Victorian Department of Health. We advise all patients who have symptoms to remain home and not attend work, school or any public places until symptoms have completely resolved. This means if you likely have a standard cold, flu like symptoms or viral illness it is best to stay at home.
More information and updates can be found on the Victorian Department of Health website:
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
COVID-19 and surgery
There is evidence to suggest that patients recently infected with COVID-19 who are undergoing surgery may be at a higher risk of complications:
These complications may include, but are not limited to:
- Increased risk of lung complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure
- Increased risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism) and bleeding disorder (coagulopathy)
- Higher risk of acute cardiac (heart) injury and myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation)
- Slower recovery from surgery
- Increased risk of death during or post procedure
What is my risk and how long should I wait?
The risk of you experiencing COVID related complications following surgery post COVID-19 infection varies with individual factors (such as your general health, severity of COVID infection, type of surgery being performed) and decreases over time following infection.
How long you need to wait after COVID infection prior to undergoing surgery is a balance of the risk of COVID related complications and the risk of deferring surgery.
Your surgeon and anaesthetist will discuss with you the safest timing for your surgery considering:
- Your age and general health
- The severity of your COVID infection
- If you have ongoing COVID symptoms
- The nature and urgency of the surgery
- If there are any alternatives to surgery
What assessment is required?
You may require a formal clinical review prior to surgery to assess your heart and lungs. This review may be performed by an anaesthetist, respiratory physician, cardiac physician or general perioperative physician depending on your individual circumstances. This is especially important in those who have any persisting symptoms (including fatigue) or who were hospitalised for COVID related care.
If you have recently been infected with COVID 19, or have any ongoing symptoms from past COVID infection, it is important that you inform your surgeon and anaesthetist.