COVID-19 Update: Elective Surgery Resumption

Elective surgery resumed on the 28^th April 2020 at 25% capacity and increased to full capacity as of 15^th June 2020. This was less than three months after it was suspended to ensure that our health system had sufficient resources to effectively handle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 23^rd March 2020, all non-urgent Category 2 and Category 3 elective procedures were suspended to preserve resources and ensure hospitals had adequate available capacity to care for COVID-19 patients.

On 1^st July 2020 it was announced that the McGowan Government will invest $36 million towards elective surgery following the impacts of the pandemic, increasing the hours of work available to staff and funding extended hours of theatre operation to accommodate extra patients on backlogs and waitlists. This significant investment will enable 5800 additional elective surgery procedures to be conducted by the end of 2020, compared to the numbers projected prior to COVID-19. Patients who have waited longer than clinicians would generally like them to will be prioritised and receive elective procedures first.