The Emergency Management (Appropriate Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic No 5) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Appropriate Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic No 6) (COVID-19) Direction 2022. This Direction will take effect at 12.01am on 7 January 2022.
The Direction has been amended to clarify the surgical treatments and procedures that may be performed in South Australia:
- Emergency surgery and procedures for conditions which would lead to:
- Loss of life; or
- Loss of limb; or
- Permanent disability.
- Urgent surgery and procedures for conditions where:
- a patient would come to harm if surgery is delayed;
- Category 1 surgery as defined in the National Guidelines (see link below);
- Category 2 surgery as defined in the National Guidelines, where there is an urgent clinical need to proceed (see link below);
- Procedures including endoscopy, bronchoscopy, interventional radiology and cardiology where there is an urgent clinical need to proceed.
- Surgery and procedures undertaken in a community setting utilising local anaesthetic by health practitioners;
- Dental procedures and dental surgical treatments performed outside of a hospital setting;
- Surgical termination of pregnancy;
- Assisted reproduction procedures (IVF);
- Screening procedures (including breast, bowel and cervix screening);
- Have an approved exemption to have surgery from either the Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the South Australian Chief Public Health Officer or a deputy Chief Public Health Officer.
National Guidelines means the Australian Government, Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, National Elective Surgery Urgency Categorisation guideline dated April, 2015:
Other existing requirements remain.
The information above only highlights the key changes made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 8am to 8pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
