Doctors decide Daniel Andrews will not require surgery after Victorian Premier fell down stairs

Doctors have reached a decision about the next step in treating Daniel Andrews after he sustained serious injuries in a nasty fall.

Doctors have decided Daniel Andrews will not require major spinal surgery, but the Victorian Premier still faces a long time on the sidelines as he recovers from a fall.

A government spokesperson on Wednesday night said: “On the advice of clinicians at The Alfred, there are no immediate plans for surgery”.

While the Alfred hospital’s ICU director associate professor Steve McGloughlin confirmed the Premier was in a stable condition.

“Mr Andrews is comfortable and his pain is well-controlled,” he said.

“A multidisciplinary team including intensive care, trauma and orthopaedic specialists has developed a treatment plan, together with the Andrews family.

“Mr Andrews has sustained some serious injuries, and his condition is being monitored closely. At this stage there is no immediate plan for surgery.”

Heartfelt thanks to the entire team at @AlfredHealth for taking such good care of me.

We’re so very grateful. pic.twitter.com/kSCDP9qKXn

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) March 10, 2021

It comes after NCA NewsWire revealed the surgery under consideration would have involved screws, pins and plates to reinforce Mr Andrews’ damaged vertebrae.

Mr Andrews fractured his T7 vertebrae – in his mid-back region – which will mean a long road to recovery.

Doctors have decided Daniel Andrews will not require major spinal surgery. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

It comes after the Premier slipped down the stairs while getting ready for work on Tuesday morning.

He was taken to hospital where it was revealed he had broken several ribs and damaged his spine.

He was on Tuesday night transferred to a specialist trauma centre at The Alfred hospital following an MRI.

There are fears Mr Andrews could be out of action for more than a month and his mobility “greatly reduced” after that, according to a spinal trauma surgeon.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Cunningham – while not Mr Andrews’s doctor – said based on the description of the Premier’s injuries he would expect him to be out of action for weeks.

“I’m very sorry this has happened to Dan – it’s a tragic accident,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“From what I’ve heard of his injuries I think he’ll be in a lot of pain and discomfort for some weeks to come.

“It may depend on whether he requires a brace or an operation on his back, but I expect as the injuries have been described to me that this accident will leave him with greatly reduced mobility.”

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Cunningham expects the Premier to be out of action for weeks.

Dr Cunningham – who has operated at the Royal Melbourne hospital for 10 years – suspected the Premier’s injuries to be “worse off than first thought” following his transfer to the specialist trauma centre at the Alfred.

“Anyone in Victoria with the most significant spinal injuries comes to either two trauma centres in Melbourne, and they are the Alfred or the Royal Melbourne,” he said.

Minister for environment Lily D’Ambrosio said on Wednesday the Premier was “in good spirits”

“He is getting the best of care, and has great support in Cath and the kids,” she said.

Earlier, Mr Andrews’ office issued a statement that provided initial details of the accident and his condition.

“Early this morning, I was admitted to hospital after slipping and falling on wet and slippery stairs,” the Premier said.

“A CT scan has revealed several broken ribs and vertebrae damage, and subsequent medical advice has recommended I remain in intensive care for the next few days.”

Daniel Andrews was transferred to a specialist trauma centre at The Alfred hospital following an MRI on Tuesday night. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Mr Andrews said he, his wife Catherine and his children were “extremely grateful to the Ambulance Victoria paramedics who showed such care and kindness to our family this morning, as we are to the clinicians who have taken care of me today”.

“Our warm and sincere thanks go to the many family members, friends, colleagues and Victorians who have sent messages of love and support throughout the day. Thank you,” he said.

“I hope to be able to provide another update later this week. James Merlino will serve as Acting Premier while I recover over the next few days. For now, we’d like to ask that our family’s privacy is respected.”

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