Healthscope restricts elective surgery

25 March 2020

Healthscope will postpone non-urgent elective surgery later tonight as requested by the Federal Government.

The decision will not affect so-called Category 1 surgeries, which typically include obstetrics, cardiothoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, oncologic surgery, neurosurgery, general surgery, and vascular surgery. Some exceptional Category 2 surgery will also continue.

However, the decision will require all Category 3 surgeries to be postponed. These are generally non-urgent conditions that can safely be deferred and treated over a period of months.

This decision will free-up supplies of medical equipment and hospital beds that may be required to treat future coronavirus patients.

Healthscope will communicate directly with affected patients.