ELECTIVE surgeries have been ramped up at South West Healthcare after months of delays due to the pandemic.
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The state government gave the green light for 85 per cent of elective surgeries to recommence on Monday across regional Victoria.
South West Healthcare acting chief executive officer Andrew Trigg said the past two weeks had seen a steep increase in activity.
"Having received the government's green light to resume performing more elective surgery, South West Healthcare has increased its elective surgery in the past fortnight," he said.
"On September 18 its Warrnambool and Camperdown theatres were operating at approximately 65 per cent. Last week they fluctuated between 65 to 75 per cent. This week they're booked at 85 per cent.
"This is a great outcome for our patients who we acknowledge have been impacted during this period. We really appreciate their understanding of this very challenging situation.
"We will continue to increase our elective surgery to reach the government-approved caps which are ceiling figures that provide much needed flexibility in planning incremental increases."
Patients are required to undergo a COVID-19 test before surgery.
In mid-August, non-urgent elective surgery other than Category 1 and urgent Category 2 was reduced around the state to ensure limited resources were available to respond to increasing COVID-positive demand.
All Victorian hospitals will move to 100 percent of usual activity when the state shifts to the last step to COVID Normal planned for November 23.
Chief executive officer Craig Fraser said SWH specialist clinic consultations will gradually increase in line with elective surgery activity.
Telehealth will continue to be used where possible to reduce face-to-face consultations, non-urgent dental services will slowly resume and AHPRA-registered allied health professionals will be able to see patients for face-to-face services for a broader range of treatments, including pain management and preventing deterioration in functional independence.
Some limitations will still stay in place, such as group therapy for allied health.
"As we move to recommence face-to-face services every measure will be taken to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff, including the screening of everyone entering our facilities and physical distancing requirements," Mr Fraser said.
"Again, I want to thank all our staff, volunteers, patients, clients, consumers and residents for their understanding as we flexibly change our response to COVID. It highlights the benefits of the great work regional and rural south west residents have done in reducing COVID numbers.
"I do want to highlight that I'm concerned about the decreasing number of people being diagnosed with cancers and other illnesses and conditions.
"Our early detection percentage rates have decreased, as they have across Victoria, so please don't delay in seeing your doctor if you believe you have symptoms or health conditions that need attending to."
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