Former Royal Australasian College of Surgeons President Professor David Watters AM OBE will head up Victoria’s new independent council to improve care for patients before, during and after surgery.
Professor Watters will start as Chair of the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council in October.
He was appointed by the Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos MP for a three-year term and will be responsible for establishing the new council as an important link between the health sector and the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and Safer Care Victoria.
Inaugural council members will be appointed in late October. Together they will review cases of mortality and morbidity associated with surgery and anaesthesia and recommend ways to improve perioperative care in Victoria.
The new council will replace two independent councils that review mortality and morbidity cases - the Victorian Surgical Consultative Council and the Victorian Consultative Council on Anaesthetic Mortality and Morbidity.
Professor Watters is an Alfred Deakin Professor of Surgery at University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health) and at Deakin University.
In 2018 he received the Member of the Order of Australia medal in recognition of his significant service to medicine and medical education, particularly in endocrine and colorectal surgery, and through leadership roles with professional organisations.