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The Victorian government has announced that all elective surgeries in public and private hospitals could resume by the end of the month as the Omicron wave continues to subside.
Victoria’s Minister of Health, Martin Foley, has approved a plan so that from next Monday, February 21, public hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne can carry out elective category two surgeries.
All elective surgeries can resume in Victoria from the end of this month in public and private hospitals. Credit:Kate Geraghty
Private hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne will also be able to increase up to 75% of all elective surgery from Monday, up from 50% previously. This could increase to 100% from February 28.
In regional Victoria, the cap for private hospitals will be increased from the current 75% to 100%, while regional public hospitals will continue to offer any elective surgery based on individual capacity.
The Minister of Health is also considering resuming all elective surgeries from February 28, with a focus on treating category one and two patients within clinically recommended timelines.
Each hospital will assess its individual capacity to perform elective surgery and respond to COVID-19 demands.
“With hospitalizations steadily declining and staff availability improving, we are in a strong position to remove remaining restrictions and ensure delayed appointments can be rescheduled as quickly as possible,” Foley said.
“All of our healthcare staff have done an incredible job of getting us through the Omicron wave. Our approach must be careful and steady to ensure they are able to cope without being further affected by fatigue and time off. .