NT hospitals postpone elective surgeries, restrict visitors in response to coronavirus

Territory hospitals are postponing elective surgeries and restricting visitors in an effort to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

Territory hospitals including RDH are postponing elective surgeries and restricting visitors in an effort to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

TERRITORY hospitals are postponing elective surgeries and restricting visitors in an effort to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

At Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital, category two and three elective surgeries have been postponed, while category one elective surgeries are continuing.

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Medical Services executive director Dr Charles Pain said elective surgery was being managed as per existing protocols and would be rescheduled in due course.

“We regret any inconvenience these changes will have for our patients as well as their families and friends,” he said.

From this Friday both hospitals will also restrict visiting hours from 10am to noon and 5pm to 7pm each day, except in the maternity and paediatric wards.

Patients will only be allowed one visitor per session and no visitors under the age of 16 will be allowed.

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Exemptions to these visiting rules will apply in special circumstances, such as palliative care, via request to ward managers.

“We believe these changes are in the best interests of patients during this challenging period and to slow down the spread of this virus as much as possible,” Dr Pain said.

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