Patients across the state will receive their elective surgery as scheduled on Thursday, even as the day was declared a public holiday in memory of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
A number of surgeons have chosen to work on 22 September so scheduled elective surgeries can take place across metropolitan and regional hospitals.
Metropolitan hospitals will provide an estimated 15 theatre lists for elective surgery, and an estimated eight theatre lists will be provided in regional hospitals.
SA Health is currently in the process of contacting anyone who is booked in for surgery next Thursday to confirm the status of their procedure, and there is no need for South Australians with surgery booked on 22 September, or any other day, to contact the hospital.
Patients who are not able to receive their scheduled surgery will be rescheduled as a priority, while access to emergency surgery on the public holiday will be available as normal.
Our overdue elective surgery waiting list has reduced by almost 1,000 patients from 28 February 2022 to 14 September 2022, despite increased hospital demand due to the recent COVID-19 surge.
Elective surgery data can be found on our dashboard here.
Quotes attributable to Acting Deputy Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Helen Chalmers
I'd thank to thank our doctors, nurses and all of our hardworkinghospital staff for working on the public holiday to ensure South Australianpatients are able to receive the care they need.
Our hospitals have worked hard this week to ensure we wereable to keep as many scheduled appointments as possible.
We apologise for any disruption this may cause patients whoneed to be rescheduled and assure them that their appointments will be rebookedas a priority.
People with questions regarding their upcoming surgery areencouraged to contact their clinic.
