Victorian elective surgeries suspended as coronavirus cases grow by 384 | ABC News

Mr Andrews also announced “with some regret” that elective surgeries would be suspended, except for category one and the most urgent category two procedures.

The suspensions will apply to public and private hospitals in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, which are under stage three restrictions.

“This will free up beds and free up staff,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the decision was made with “a sense of absolute urgency” in order to ensure hospital staff were on hand to treat residents from aged care.

“Staff is the biggest issue,” he said.

“We have the better part of 200 residents that have already been moved from private sector aged care to clinical settings, hospitals, both public and private.”

Mr Andrews said the state would do its best to honour scheduled surgeries, “but that will not run for very long”.

“We will attempt to have your surgery done, but very soon all of that surgery will stop, so only the most urgent patients will be treated,” he said.

Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-28/coronavirus-case-numbers-victoria-rise-384-with-six-new-deaths/12498024

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