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AMA (NSW) is urging Premier Dominic Perrottet to pump the brakes on lifting restrictions in NSW.
“We’ve got a new Premier in the driver’s seat, but that’s not a good enough reason to deviate from the course set out,” said Dr Danielle McMullen, AMA (NSW) President.
“Keeping people safe must be the Premier’s top priority. We know the virus is still circulating in the community. Relaxing restrictions too soon will not be a ‘popular’ decision if it means the number of people contracting the virus and ending up in hospital skyrockets.
“We all want to get to ‘COVID-normal’ but going too fast too soon undoes the work and sacrifices NSW residents have made to get to this point.
“We can’t afford to act like COVID is over. It’s far from over and making wide-sweeping changes to the restrictions at this point could be result in a spike in cases again.
“What we don’t want is to open up and be forced to go back into lockdown for Christmas. The State Government has a strong record of making decisions based on health advice and
would like to see that continue.
“Healthcare workers have been working tirelessly for months. Some haven’t been able to take leave in almost two years. If the hospitals are overwhelmed now we risk completely burning out the workforce, not to mention the impact it will have on both COVID and non-COVID care.
Dr McMullen stressed that we still don’t have a plan for reopening the healthcare system.
“There is no plan to reintroduce more surgery, or face to face outpatient clinics, or clear mapping of how we’ll manage patient flow in endemic COVID. Increasing movement in the community is likely to increase COVID but also increase accidents and injuries – putting further pressure on emergency departments.
“It’s mind-boggling that people will be able to attend mass gatherings at outdoor events and we still haven’t been able to get elective surgery back open.
“All of Australia is watching NSW at the moment. Making the wrong move now will not only set back the State it will have ramifications across the country.
“We urge the Premier to get this right, go carefully, and pump the brakes,” Dr McMullen said.
Media contact: Andrea Cornish – 0419 402 955