Half of surgeons have no patients due to coronavirus
Australian survey shows 94% of surgeons have seen their incomes fall since March
The fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has left more than half of surgeons with no patients to treat, according to a survey of more than 600 Australian healthcare professionals.
It reveals a variety of COVID-19 impacts on doctors ranging from anxiety and depression over lost income to fears they’ll pass the infection to family and friends.
Doctors made up over half the sample, including 149 GPs, 160 other specialists and 33 surgeons. Nurses, allied health practitioners, pharmacists and healthcare managers accounted for the rest.
Overall, 61% said they had seen their incomes decrease, with 94% of surgeons reporting a fall in earnings in late April compared when COVID-19 was first diagnosed in Australia in January.
