The situation in Victoria is changing on a daily basis and we have had some major changes announced to the surgical system in Victoria. In relation to elective surgery the formal advice from the Victorian Department of Health and the Minister for Health announced today (Thursday 16 July) is:
- Elective surgery in the public sector is now capped at 50 per cent capacity.
- Elective surgery in the private sector is now capped at 75 per cent capacity (private hospitals can continue to take on Public Category 1 and urgent Category 2 cases).
- All Category 3 elective surgery has been suspended.
- These changes apply to the current lockdown areas – there will be no change in regional Victoria.
For detailed information on the current restrictions you can visit the Victorian Department of Health’s Coronavirus Hub which is updated daily and I encourage you to engage with your individual hospitals regarding the impact on your lists.
I wish you all well and will keep you updated as restrictions change.
Matthew Hadfield
Chair, Victorian State Committee