Elective surgery increase

Epworth HealthCare resumes additional non-urgent elective surgery at Epworth Geelong from Monday, 21 September 2020, with surgery in our Melbourne hospitals to increase the following week.

In line with the Victorian State Government directive, non-urgent category 2 and category 3 elective surgery cases were paused in July in both private and public hospitals at the, as the second wave of COVID-19 hit Victoria.

Epworth, working with our doctors, continues to prioritise cases according to clinical needs in accordance with the latest guidelines.

Epworth Group Chief Executive Dr Lachlan Henderson said it’s been difficult for patients waiting for elective surgery.

“We know it’s been tough for some of our patients who had their surgery delayed,” Dr Henderson said.

“We will increase the number of elective procedures we are doing in coming months in line with state government guidelines”.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requires all elective surgery and maternity patients to undergo pre-admission COVID-19 swab testing and then self-isolate in the days leading up to their procedure.

Dr Henderson said surgery patients can have confidence that extra steps have been put in place at all Epworth hospitals to keep patients, our employees and doctors safe.

“Our hospitals look a little different now with all patients, visitors, employees and doctors required to wear face masks. Temperature checks, visitor restrictions, hand hygiene measures and physical distancing also remain in place to keep everyone safe.”

Everyone entering our hospitals has to comply with a DHHS requirement to fill out an attestation that they are well, and haven’t been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID.