| COVID-19 - IMPLICATIONS FOR SURGERY IN IRELAND |
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Dear Colleague,
The developing COVID-19 pandemic is already having a profound impact on Healthcare in Ireland. Almost all elective surgery has stopped and the facility to undertake urgent and emergency surgery is already under strain in most centres.
Not only are surgeons unable to use their skills effectively to treat their patients but many are being asked to reskill, upskill and redeploy to fulfill other patient care roles in the health service. It is a very challenging time for everyone.
We have had a big response from surgeons who are retired who would like to contribute in a way that is appropriate to their skills and their risk status. 48 surgeons who are enrolled in PCS have put their names forward and their details have been forwarded to the National Clinical Programme in Surgery.
Regular updates: For those in front line roles as Consultants in public or private practice or NCHDs or as trainees, it is difficult to keep up with the current best practice as this evolves daily. To assist you RCSI have put together a special webpage with a range of resources relating to policies and guidance for Ireland which you can access here (https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/coronavirus/surgical-practice)
Your feedback is welcome and you can do this most easily by email (pcs@rcsi.ie)
Short of CPD credits or Difficulty meeting CPD requirements for PCS Year 1st May 2019 - 30th April 2020 : no problemIn most cases, your ability to complete your CPD requirements or to record them may be impaired by the current crisis. If this is the case, please complete the declaration on this page - click here which will only take a minute. Further advice from the Medical Council is expected in the next few days.
Finally, apart form the professional obligation, this is a difficult time for many on a personal level. Some will be concerned about their own health, about family members who also work in a front line role, or about other vulnerable family members who are at risk. Occupational health and other teams are available at many locations but if there is anything we in PCS or in the wider RCSI community could do that might help, please let us know.
Click here for the message from Mr Kenneth Mealy, President, RCSI. We will send some further targeted updates over the next few weeks.
Look after yourself and look out for each other.
Sean Tierney
Professor Sean Tierney BSc MCh FRCSI
Dean Professional Development/Practice
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