Will the Minister explain why there have not been any announcements with regard to the resumption of orthopaedic surgery in Wales?
There are currently no plans to make any formal announcement on the recommencement of specific non-COVID services. However, where appropriate, Health Boards have been seeing and treating patients if it is in the patient’s best interest and clinical need.
Health Boards, as part of their quarter two plans, are reintroducing more non-COVID services, based on clinical need. The work is being clinically led, which is the correct approach, and this is supported by the appropriate level of risk assessment. It is important to recognise the need to balance the risk of receiving treatment and the risk of contracting COVID-19 and ultimately, this is determined by a discussion between patients and their clinicians. However, the resumption of services will only happen when it is safe to do so for both patients and staff.
This approach is in-line with clinical guidance issued by the British Orthopaedic Association as set out in the link below.