In This Section

Specialty society updates

On this page

Elective surgery recommendations from specialty societies

RACS consulted with its specialty societies who committed to providing Fellows with guidelines on elective surgery. Recommendations received from specialty societies are listed below.

Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons

ANZSCTS Return to Elective Surgery (PDF 89.99KB) (27 April)  

Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery

ANZSVS Guidance for the re-introduction of elective surgery (PDF 196.28KB) (27 April) 

Australian and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons

Position statement for the re-introduction of elective Paediatric Surgery (PDF 104.42KB) (29 April) 

COVID 19: Elective Case Triage - Guidelines for Surgical Care (PDF 276.74KB) 

Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society

ANZGOSA and ANZMOSS Guidelines for Triaging Upper GI and Bariatric Surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF 294.25KB) (27 April) 

Australian Hand Surgery Society

Australian Hand Surgery Society letter to RACS (PDF 178.07KB) (1 April)

Australian Orthopaedic Association

AOA position statement on the staged and safe approach to the return of orthopaedic surgery during COVID-19 (PDF 125.5KB)

Australian Orthopaedic Association ElectiveSurgery COVID Position Statement (PDF 59.49KB)

The AOA has published the following position statements and advice:

These are in addition to the position statements issued by:

Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery

ASOHNS guidelines addressing the COVID-19 pandemic – the re-introduction of elective surgery (PDF 134.79KB)

Guidance for ENT surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic (20 March 2020) 

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons 

ASPS communication about government ban on non-urgent elective surgery (PDF 68.89KB) (26 March 2020) 

Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 

Restoration of Elective Neurosurgery (PDF 165.71KB)

COVID-19 Position Statement Neurosurgery National Elective Surgery Urgency Categorisation (Monday 30 March) 

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons communication to members (PDF 144.85KB)(23 April)

New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

NZSOHNS guidelines addressing the COVID-19 pandemic: Moving to Level2 (PDF 330.72KB) 

New Zealand Orthopaedic Association 

Information to NZOA Members on Elective Services (PDF 301.92KB) 

Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand

USANZ update on easing of restrictions to elective surgery in Australia (PDF 100.55KB) (23 April)

Specialty society communications

Australian Orthopaedic Association

Position statement: Orthopaedic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic  

AOA COVID-19 information hub 

AOA and subspecialty COVID-19 advice pack (PDF 1.63MB)

Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

Guidance for ENT surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic(20 March 2020)

Further guidance for ENT surgeons and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic(22 March 2020)

Resource links for COVID-19 Information(22 March 2020) 

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons 

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons communications (PDF 219.81KB) (28 April)

ASPS communication about government ban on non-urgent elective surgery (PDF 68.89KB) (26 March 2020)

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Covid 19 Statement (PDF 486.38KB) 

Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery

ANZSVS update (PDF 382.13KB) (Wednesday 1 April) 

Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

ANZAOMS guidance for OMS practices (PDF 809.03KB) 

Australian & New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons

ANZES Executive Position Statement: Endocrine Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Defining urgent endocrine surgical conditions. 

Australia & New Zealand Gastro Oesophageal Surgery Association

ANZGOSA General Guidelines for managing Patients with Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer during COVID-19 pandemic (PDF 214.86KB) (6 April)

ANZGOSA and ANZMOSS Guidelines for Triaging Upper GI and Bariatric Surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF 294.25KB) (27 April) 

ANZ Hernia Society

Position statement regarding hernia surgery in the COVID-19 crisis (PDF 450.26KB)

Breast Surgeons of Australia & New Zealand

Guidelines from BreastSurgANZ Council relating to the COVID-19 pandemic  

General Surgeons Australia 

General Surgeons Australia Position Statement: Endocrine Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF 169.27KB)

General Surgeons Australia COVID-19 Guidelines for Endocrine Surgery (PDF 572.95KB) 

General Surgery decision tree for surgeons (PDF 35.05KB)

General Surgeons Australia COVID-19 Guidelines for General Surgery (31 March)

Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 

COVID-19 Position Statement Neurosurgery National Elective Surgery Urgency Categorisation (Monday 30 March)

Impact of COVID-19 on SET Program in Neurosurgery (Monday 30 March)

Position Statement: COVID‐19 (Tuesday 31 March)  

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons communication to members (PDF 144.85KB) (23 April)

New Zealand Orthopaedic Association 

Update to NZOA Trainees (PDF 56.96KB) (Monday 23 March) 

New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery

NZOHNS communication and recommendations for Otolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons on Personal Protection Equipment (PDF 163.77KB) (Saturday 28 March) 

Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand

USANZ Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Urologists During COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines (PDF 189.55KB) (30 March)

USANZ Urological Prioritisation During COVID-19 Guidelines (PDF 118.09KB) (25 March)