Hundreds receive elective surgery in SA, overdue wait list starts to fall, as restrictions are lifted
One of the first restrictions lifted in SA was on elective surgeries. It has now been revealed how many are still waiting, and by how much the overdue list has fallen as treatment ramps up.
SA News
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Hundreds of patients have received elective surgeries and the number on the overdue list is again shrinking, after SA became the first state to lift COVID-19 restrictions on treatment.
Fears of spreading infection and overwhelmed hospitals forced elective surgery shutdowns across the country in March, which SA rapidly lifted as the curve came under control.
Figures released on request to The Advertiser show the number of SA patients overdue for elective surgeries peaked at 2792 in May, as restrictions added to the backlog.
The State Government is now seeking to get elective surgeries back to near normal levels, and 763 admissions were accepted in SA metropolitan hospitals between June 15 and 21.
The number of people overdue for treatments has dropped by 597 patients since May.
That equates to a reduction of 21 per cent on the overdue list.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said hundreds of South Australians had received much-needed surgeries since SA’s nation-leading decision to restart.
“The Marshall Liberal Government has had a clear focus on reducing the overdue elective surgery list, halving it before the pandemic and we remain committed to delivering that relief for South Australians,” Mr Wade said.
“When the decision was made to recommence elective surgery in May, the first several weeks were spent gradually ramping up to full capacity.
“We are pleased to see the overdue numbers considerably decreasing each week with the initial focus on essential surgeries facing the most urgent need.
“There is still plenty of work to do.”
The specialities with the highest overdue numbers currently throughout the system include orthopaedics, plastic surgery, ENT, urology, and gynaecology.
After coming to office, the Government committed $45 million extra to clearing the backlog.
Department for Health and Wellbeing executive director of health services programs and funding Helen Chalmers said work was ongoing with local hospital networks on strategies to safely maximise the number of elective surgeries undertaken in the coming months.
“Strategies include undertaking additional procedures internally or utilising other hospitals such as in the private sector to perform procedures,” Ms Chalmers said.
The biggest decreases in overdue lists have been driven by treatments administered through the Central Adelaide and Women’s and Children’s health networks.
Vincent Ahern, 74, said he was grateful to receive a surgery.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network medical lead Peter Subramaniam said Mr Ahern had an aortic aneurysm for some years, but COVID restrictions caused a treatment delay.
“Mr Ahern was closely monitored and when restrictions were lifted (and) was promptly brought into the Royal Adelaide Hospital for surgery,” Dr Subramaniam said.
“The safety and care of our patients is always our number one priority.
“Pausing elective surgeries not only protected those patients, is also allowed us to provide essential surgery to those most in need.
“The restoration of elective surgery was welcomed by our patients and medical teams, who are once again delivering vital treatment and services to our community.”