Coronavirus
update
COVID19 FOR SURGICAL ADMISSIONS
This update is intended to reflect the changes associated with the COVID19 pandemic. It is for patients being admitted at Life Healthcare hospitals. A number of factors ( increasing proportion of vaccinated patients, easier to administer tests for the virus, the need to ‘live ‘ with the virus, amongst others) have necessitated a change in the approach to testing patients presenting for surgery to hospital. There are currently two types of tests available for the virus; a RT- PCR test and the rapid antigen test ( Ag- RDT). Health professionals may use their discretion to vary from the approach below
Elective (Planned) Surgical Admissions
- A pre-admission test is required within the previous 72 hours prior to admission for planned surgical procedures requiring hospitalisation overnight or longer: PCR for unvaccinated patients, rapid antigen test for vaccinated patients.
- Should admission be delayed for any reason, reasonable discretion will be applied to avoid repeat testing and such a period will not exceed 14 days.
- Wherever possible, patients with a positive test will have their admission postponed for at least 10 days.
Emergency Admissions
For emergency admissions, a clinical risk assessment will be made based on symptoms and vaccination status to decide on the need for testing. Rapid antigen testing may be used. In symptomatic patients a positive rapid antigen testing will be considered to confirm the diagnosis; a negative test in symptomatic patients will be followed by a PCR test
Pregnant Patients and Partners
- Routine testing for pregnant patients is no longer a requirement.
- For planned Caesarean Sections a COVID19 test is required (as for surgical admissions of overnight or longer) – PCR for unvaccinated patients and rapid test for vaccinated patients.
- Symptomatic patients will be tested; if rapid positive will treated as Covid19 patient. If negative a PCR test will be done.
- The treating doctors may exercise professional discretion for testing at any time.
- Birth partner are not required to have a Covid19 test and are permitted to attend the delivery of the baby if they are asymptomatic and wearing a mask at all times.
- Birth partner ps who are symptomatic must test with antigen test. If rapid test is positive, they will not be allowed to attend the birth or stay over.
Elective (Planned) Surgical Admissions
- A pre-admission test is required within the previous 72 hours prior to admission for planned surgical procedures requiring hospitalisation overnight or longer: PCR for unvaccinated patients, rapid antigen test for vaccinated patients.
- Should admission be delayed for any reason, reasonable discretion will be applied to avoid repeat testing and such a period will not exceed 14 days.
- Wherever possible, patients with a positive test will have their admission postponed for at least 10 days.
Emergency Admissions
For emergency admissions, a clinical risk assessment will be made based on symptoms and vaccination status to decide on the need for testing. Rapid antigen testing may be used. In symptomatic patients a positive rapid antigen testing will be considered to confirm the diagnosis; a negative test in symptomatic patients will be followed by a PCR test.
Pregnant Patients and Partners
- Routine testing for pregnant patients is no longer a requirement.
- For planned Caesarean Sections a COVID19 test is required (as for surgical admissions of overnight or longer) – PCR for unvaccinated patients and rapid test for vaccinated patients.
- Symptomatic patients will be tested; if rapid positive will treated as Covid19 patient. If negative a PCR test will be done.
- The treating doctors may exercise professional discretion for testing at any time.
- Birth partner are not required to have a Covid19 test and are permitted to attend the delivery of the baby if they are asymptomatic and wearing a mask at all times.
- Birth partner ps who are symptomatic must test with antigen test. If rapid test is positive, they will not be allowed to attend the birth or stay over.
Testing after previous confirmed COVID19 infection and /or high risk exposure
Reinfection with the virus does occur but is relatively uncommon. Patients with a documented positive test in the 90 days prior to admission and who are asymptomatic do not need to gave a COVID19 test prior to admission.
