RAH, QEH cancel more elective surgeries as health system struggles

Two of Adelaide’s top hospitals are cancelling more elective surgeries – with a postponement order from RAH and QEH being extended.

Elective surgery cancellations already have been extended into next week, after the snap decision to postpone non-urgent surgeries this week to ease pressure on the beleaguered hospital system for Easter.

The Advertiser has learned the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) was cancelling surgeries scheduled for Tuesday within hours of SA Health chief Dr Robyn Lawrence holding a press conference last Wednesday to defend the decision to postpone non-urgent elective surgeries until Good Friday – when elective surgery ends for the Easter break.

At least 11 surgeries will be postponed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Tuesday.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Emma McCahon said the metropolitan directive from SA Health to postpone elective surgeries ends at midnight Thursday.

“However, as per our usual hospital practices, where needed, clinicians continue to review our elective surgery lists in times of strong demand,” she said.

“Our specialists have made the local decision to postpone 11 elective surgeries on Tuesday.

“We apologise to affected patients and will be rebooking these procedures as soon as possible.”

Chief executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing Dr Robyn Lawrence. Picture: Dean Martin

It is understood no similar orders have been made at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, covering Flinders Medical Centre and Noarlunga Hospital, or at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network covering the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital.

SA Health now has 20,372 patients listed as ready for elective surgery, with 4095 listed as overdue and 95 cases postponed.

Dr Lawrence faced criticism she was aware of the need to cancel surgeries at the end of last week but did not act until after the Dunstan by-election but insists it was based on the needs of the healthcare system and of acute patients.

“It was not based on any political reason,” she said.

The cancellations come as hospitals grapple with chronic crowding, with Flinders Medical Centre even trialling a “corridor care” program where three beds were placed in a corridor.

This was dumped on Tuesday after an outcry from patients and staff, and an inspection by the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association.

At 4pm on Thursday all metropolitan public hospitals were struggling to cope with demand at their emergency departments.

The QEH was treating 35 patients in its 29 capacity ED, the RAH was treating 67 patients in its 69 capacity ED, FMC’s 63 capacity ED was full and Lyell McEwin was treating 56 patients in its 59 capacity ED.

Dr Lawrence said reasons driving the surge in demand even before the winter ills hit is a “complex scenario” but include difficulty accessing GPs and other primary care, delaying care during Covid, and hospitals housing people ready for discharge but needing an aged care place.

“We have every single bed open,” Dr Lawrence said on Wednesday, noting she “can’t confirm it (postponing elective surgery) won’t be used in the future.”