HUNDREDS of south-west patients had surgeries cancelled as hospitals were forced to ration personal protective equipment because of COVID-19.
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More than 600 patients missed out on elective surgeries at the Warrnambool Base Hospital in the last financial year, a new report has revealed.
Data by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed non-urgent elective surgeries dropped from 1344 to 978 in the last financial year and semi-urgent from 1512 to 1183.
But urgent surgeries increased from 907 to 954.
"It demonstrates the COVID pandemic impacts on our Warrnambool emergency department, operating theatres and mental health services," South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser said.
"Elective surgery was impacted significantly with a reduction in excess of 600 patients being treated as a result of our Warrnambool operating theatres being closed for a significant period to all but urgent elective and emergency cases.
"This was, however, somewhat offset by the great work done at St John of God Hospital to treat in excess of 400 public patients via a collaborative public/private partnership arrangement we and St John's implemented throughout the COVID response period."
The average wait time for urgent elective surgery was 12 days and 15 days for semi-urgent.
Non-urgent elective surgery patients waited an average of 85 days to be treated.
The number of private patients admitted to the Base increased by three per cent.
Overall emergency department presentations decreased by 6.7 per cent in all patient categories except emergency, which rose from 2433 to 2595.
Non-urgent patients dropped from 1453 to 1239, semi-urgent from 10,958 to 9042 and urgent increased by just one to 10,041.
Most subsequently admitted patients spent eight hours and 49 minutes in the emergency department and those not subsequently admitted five hours and 33 minutes.
All up most patients, 90 per cent, spent seven hours in ED.
"Whilst the total number of emergency department presentations decreased, the complexity and workload stayed high as a result of an increase in trauma and high-end emergency presentations," Mr Fraser said.
"This was compounded by additional demands associated with ensuring a COVID-safe environment for both our patients and staff, particularly around the implementation of changed workflow, additional PPE and ensuring safe infection prevention processes.
"Despite these challenges, the average time a patient spent in our Warrnambool emergency department reduced across the board with improvements in all categories. The average time most patients (90 percent) spent there improved by five per cent."
Mental health hospital admissions rose from 333 to 355.
"Admissions relating to our Warrnambool-based Mental Health Services increased by six percent," Mr Fraser said.
"This reflects the impact COVID has had on individuals and their health, wellbeing and connection to community.
"We met the demand which increased in our adult, child and adolescent presentations, particularly in the community setting where other providers were restricted during COVID to online activity.
"Investment in these preventative mental health services and strategies to assist our communities to manage through the pandemic most likely prevented larger increases in admission numbers during 2019-20.
"We know COVID impacts are still prevalent and we will continue to look at ways to assist people throughout 2021."
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