ELECTIVE surgery will be ramped up to full capacity at some Limestone Coast hospitals as the COVID-19 pandemic remains stable across the state.
While South Australia yesterday recorded zero new cases for the sixth consecutive day, Mount Gambier Hospital will only gradually increase its theatre lists given it is a COVID-19 designated hospital.
The regional hospital will need to safeguard its personal protective gear and resources in preparation for a possible influx of COVID-19 cases.
The State Government earlier this week announced it would fully restore elective surgery across the state.
Health officials also revealed new rapid testing capability was used for the first time in the region yesterday, which will result in COVID results being fast-tracked within potentially 60 minutes.
Limestone Coast Local Health Network medical services executive director Dr Elaine Pretorius said she was thrilled elective surgery would resume to 100pc capacity at some regional hospitals.
“The emergence of new COVID-19 cases is going to keep happening, we just need to keep an eye on it,” Dr Pretorius said.
“That’s why we have chosen to do a gentle ramp up of surgery at Mount Gambier Hospital and not jump back to 100pc capacity.”
The medical chief revealed Millicent, Naracoorte and Bordertown hospitals would return to full elective surgery capacity from May 20.
“We want to maintain a little bit of capacity at Mount Gambier Hospital. But we are hoping to get back to full capacity by the middle of next month,” Dr Pretorius said.
“But this will rely on how many cases there are and availability of personnel protective equipment.
“The last thing we want to do is ramp up elective surgery and have to switch off again. As long there is no spike, we will slowly increase elective surgery.”
Dr Pretorius conceded many people had been impacted by the shutdown of elective surgery.
“They would have pain and worry. Some people would also want a diagnosis,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Pretorius said Mount Gambier Hospital admissions were low given the dramatic fall in influenza cases.
“If you compare it to this time last year, we are not seeing influenza patients and the elderly with the severe flu. We have not seen any flu,” she said.
The health professional attributed the lack of flu patients to social distancing measures.
“I really hope the public sees the lessons from COVID and tries to continue some of those practices during winter. We know flu gets transmitted in the same way,” Dr Pretorius said.
“Last year was a really bad year for the flu. This year it feels as if we have got some time on our hands.”
Regarding surgery, Dr Pretorius said category one lists had continued across the region amid the suspension of elective surgery.
“That is someone who is either going to lose their life or a limb, fractures, cancer surgeries or anything emergency such as a ruptured appendix or ectopic pregnancies and emergency caesarean sections,” she said.
“What we are doing is going back to our lists where people have been waiting. We will identify patients who are about to become category one or those breaching their wait time who will be prioritised.”
Dr Pretorius also called on people to ensure they kept up with their general practitioner visits.
“There is some concern that people are not going to their GP and there are much less presentations as a whole,” she said.
“There maybe people who are avoiding their doctors altogether and not going
because they are worried.”
She warned this could cause a separate problem because of COVID-19.
“People need to make sure things like their diabetes are under control,” Dr Pretorius said.
People with any flu-like symptoms are being urged to contact their GP to organise a COVID-19 test.
This includes being potentially prioritised for a rapid test.
