Coronavirus COVID-19 Update

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is posing an unprecedented threat to the health and safety of communities worldwide.  Western Australia is no exception.  Widespread societal changes have thankfully been put in place to ensure social distancing and minimise the risk of disease spread.

At Perth Urology Clinic we have done our part.  

Over the last few weeks we have transitioned to a largely ‘virtual’ clinic with most patients being reviewed from the safety of their own homes via telephone consultation.   New item numbers have allowed us to bulk bill most of these encounters.   We have enabled our staff to work from home to maintain distancing.  In keeping with government and hospital directives we have stopped all elective surgeries.  

We completely understand that ‘non urgent’ urological problems can still be very bothersome and worrying for an individual patient and can understand how these changes may be seen as an inconvenience.  The changes however are intended to protect you, and protect society at large.  

Non urgent surgeries 

• Require admission to hospital, which reduces social distancing and puts patients and caregivers at risk
• Use scarce resources that will be needed by frontline health workers in the weeks to come
• Can (albeit rarely) lead to complications requiring emergency presentations which put patients at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, or (in the worse case scenario) lead to complications requiring ICU when there may be no ICU capacity

We are of course still able to provide a service for emergency surgery if deemed necessary and will do so with maximum precautions for both patient and caregiver.   

Thank you for your patience in this time of change.  Stay safe, and please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us if there is anything we can help you with.

Perth Urology Clinic