Universal Precautions
Every hospital and medical practice has had to abide by strict sanitization and sterisation protocols for decades. COVID-19 Has not changed these guidelines or practices at all, regardless of what you may believe.
Cross contamination, the spread of disease and infection and how to avoid these problems has been well understood for the last century.
Good hygiene, regular washing of hands and any equipment or instruments used has been common practice in the medical industry since the days of the Spanish Flu in the early 1900’s.
These modalities and many more are what are commonly known in the medical world as “universal precautions”.
Universal Precautions and Surgery and COVID-19
When you undergo a surgical procedure in a hospital, there are even more safety protocols in place than for a hospital ward or medical practice. Again these have not had to change with COVID-19 as they were already extremely stringent.
People diagnosed with COVID-19 are barrier nursed and kept in isolation, with only their medical staff allowed to attend them or have any personal contact.
These clients would not undergo an elective procedure and would not be taken into any area that non-infected persons share. There is no risk of you contracting COVID-19 from an admission to a hospital for a routine or elective procedure.
Is It Safe to Have Cosmetic or Elective Surgery Now?
Until it was clear that the spread of Coronavirus was under control, all hospitals were banned from performing elective surgery This included all cosmetic surgical procedures.
With your now understanding of the safety precautions always in place in a hospital situation and the strict control the government has over returning to normal surgical lists in hospitals, you should feel safe to make the decision to proceed with an elective or cosmetic surgical procedure.
The basic message to get across here is that we would not be performing surgery if there was even the slightest risk that there was an additional risk to you because of COVID-19.
You can feel completely safe booking your surgery in these early post-COVID-19 times.
COVID-19 and Face Masks
At one stage anaesthetists and anaesthetic staff who are responsible for placing the tube in your airways for a general anaesthetic , were required to wear special masks that were deemed to give more protection from airborne pathogens.
These masks are worn where possible * by any staff looking after a patient with coronavirus.
The rulings for anaesthetic staff to wear these masks for every general anaesthetic lasted only a few weeks to a month and have since been abolished.
It is proven that masks will not stop the spread of the disease, but they give some comfort to the wearer and the patient.
*not all countries can afford such masks and these were not always available everywhere
The Necessity for Safety Questions Before Any Surgery or Medical Procedure
Like any appointment at a medical practice these days, all patients will be surveyed before being admitted into the surgical unit or hospital to ensure that they are well and very unlikely to have been in contact with anyone infected by the coronavirus.
Your temperature will be taken at the time of admission on the day of your surgery, and if there is any increase over the normal 37.5 degrees, your surgery will be rescheduled and you will not be allowed to enter.
This is a last safeguard to protect everyone – including you.
Hopefully this fact sheet has helped you to understand your safety and COVID-19 in a medical or hospital setting. And to therefore allay your fears about having a surgical procedure performed in these post COVID-19 days.
Fell free to call us with any questions you may have. Out staff are here to help you.