Elective surgery in Victoria begins to resume, with plan to return to full capacity released
More Victorians than ever are waiting for elective surgery, but access to operating theatres will begin to increase under the state government’s new plan.
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Victoria will resume some elective surgery with more than 60,000 patients currently waiting for operations.
Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday elective surgeries would resume in the state’s regional hospitals as early as Thursday.
There are concerns the government estimate of 60,000 patients on the elective surgery waitlist at the end of August could be significantly higher.
But claims by the state opposition that the number is now in excess of 100,000 have been dismissed by Health Minister Jenny Mikakos as “made up”.
Since July operating theatres across Melbourne have been closed to all but the most urgent surgery cases to free up beds and medical staff for critical coronavirus-positive patients.
The most recent hospital performance data available shows that in June Victoria had a record number of 56,000 Victorians awaiting elective surgery.
Revised numbers will be available at the end of September.
The plan to resume surgeries will see regional Victoria increase to 75 per cent of usual elective surgery activity from Thursday and 85 per cent from 28 September.
Hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne will begin to ramp up to 75 per cent of usual activity from the 28 September.
That will be boosted to 85 per cent of usual activity when the area moves to the third step of the state’s recovery roadmap.
All Victorian hospitals will move to 100 per cent of usual activity when the state enters COVID-normal under that plan, expected about November 23.
It comes as the Australian Dental Association Victorian branch has called for the government to remove the restrictions on dental practice that currently only permits urgent care.
Under stage 4 restrictions only urgent dental care can be performed.
ADAVB president Dr Angelo Pacella said around one in eight dental practices in Melbourne had closed their doors in recent weeks.
Those that are still operating are seeing less than 25 per cent of their normal patient numbers.
“Many people are putting off necessary preventive care or delaying treatment that may make their condition worse,” Dr Pacella said.
“However, this ignores the importance of ongoing regular care that many people would normally have to prevent dental problems from getting worse.
“This is definitely compromising their health and wellbeing.”
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said from September 28 non-urgent dental procedures could continue.
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