Practice reopening

Healthcare has been going through an extraordinary transformation over the last few months. The transition from core life-saving services to gradual reopening posed major challenges for the complex hospital establishment and its staff.

Guidelines and restrictions have been overwhelming, often daunting, but few have led to changes that are likely to stay and should be welcomed.

As hospitals, NHS and private, are slowly re-opening, staff testing, temperature checks, sanitisation, face masks, strict infection control measures are becoming our new daily routine. Hospitals are designating Covid-free areas whilst all patients awaiting elective surgery have to be tested and self-isolate prior to their operations. Such strict measures slow things down but are necessary in order to reopen services as safely as possible. Patients with elective, non-life threatening conditions can be treated again, but for those requiring general anesthetic, indications should be carefully gauged to minimise risks.

My practice is currently offering weekly virtual and face to face consultations and treatment for skin lesion and hand and wrist problems. I expect restrictions pertinent to cosmetic surgery to be eased off soon too, but consultations allowing adequate preparation and planning are encouraged. Patients anticipating surgery should take into account longer than usual waiting time because of mandatory pre-operative self-isolation periods (between 7-14 days).