Two Melbourne-based specialist plastic surgeons have been working in Darwin as part of a new initiative to address a plastic surgery skills shortage in the Northern Territory.

Dr Will Alexander and Mr Damien Grinsell were the first to volunteer for a two-year rolling roster of specialist plastic surgeons from across Australia. They are completing six-week to three-month stints at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital.

The program was initiated by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which represents Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It is working in partnership with the hospitals, and more broadly in regional Australia, is working to match specialty needs in public hospitals.

“We’ve been aware of the shortage of plastic surgeons in Darwin and have worked with Top End Health Service and senior surgeons at Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals to develop a COVID-19 Darwin Work Plan,” said ASPS Vice President Dr Nicola Dean.

Previously, the shortfall was met by a range of international practitioners and Australian locums. “While sustaining the service for many years, we are keen to find a more permanent solution to ensure equity of access to specialist plastic surgery skills for the population of Darwin and surrounding areas,” Dr Dean said.

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Read RACS Surgical News November December 2020 – volume 21, issue 6 (PDF 29.46MB) (PDF 29.46MB)

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