Leading Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
COVID-19
This has been a very unsettling time for everyone. As the clinical lead for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital I have been working hard assisting with the COVID-19 response. We have not only been treating patients with COVID-19 but also a number of urgent cancer and trauma patients requiring our expertise. It was great to witness and be part of the weekly national thank you to the NHS on the Thursday evenings during the first lockdown.
My private practice continues to run as normal apart from the reduced General Anaesthetic operating time available due the NHS requisitioning the theatres in private hospitals.
All aspects of the practice are running including outpatient consultations, non-surgical botulinum toxin and filler injectable service and surgical procedures.
We have been issued guidance from our governing body, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons BAAPS, about a number of issues including; how to screen patients before treatments and operations and the important issue of increased risks for our patients if you contract COVID-19 during your surgery.
COVID-19 PROCEDURE
When considering attending the clinic for a consultation. We want you to be well and we are doing everything we can to keep you safe. These questions are designed for the safety of you and the clinic staff. If you or we think that you have a high chance of currently being infected with coronavirus, you should delay your attendance until a safer time and we may advise this.
We will ask you to please answer the following questions as honestly as you can:
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Have you been tested for coronavirus?
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Have you had a fever in the past two weeks?
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Have you had a cough in the past two weeks?
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Have you had any other symptoms suggestive of a viral infection within the last two weeks, such as muscle pain, lethargy, diarrhoea or vomiting, or loss of smell?
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Have you been exposed to anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past one month?
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Have you travelled outside the UK in the past 14 days and if so, where did you travel?
If you answer YES to any of these questions we will need to speak to you in advance of your attendance to discuss how best to proceed.
To maintain patient and staff safety, the following procedures must occur prior to any treatment or surgery:
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Only consider patients in low risk groups who have been symptom free for 14 days and have not been in close contact (family and household members) with anyone demonstrating possible symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days
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Negative antigen test 48 hours pre-treatment
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Strict self-isolation following test (including social distancing from household members)
Patients must understand that there is an increased risk for them due to COVID-19 when they may be opting for an elective treatment that is not urgent and may not be medically necessary.