The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District response to COVID-19 is moving to an increased level of preparedness, with moves now underway to build intensive care capacity at Wollongong Hospital, starting with changes to elective surgery from next week.
Chief Executive, Margot Mains, said there will be no change to Wollongong's emergency and trauma theatres as well as urgent surgery cases. Cases will be prioritised by clinicians from Wednesday 25 March.
"This move will free up staff usually working in, or support of, theatre to immediately undertake more specialised training so they may be redeployed to work in intensive care, where the plan is designed to double our current capacity," she said.
"It applies to non-urgent cases, mainly urology and orthopaedics. We are now working closely with our clinicians to prioritise these cases. We are also liaising with private providers to undertake these elective surgeries in their facilities, helping to minimise the impact on those currently waiting for a procedure," said Ms Mains.
Seven remaining theatres at Wollongong will be shared amongst all specialities including neurosurgery, endoscopy and vascular surgery enabling urgent and emergency cases to be prioritised. C-section lists will remain and ECT and bone marrow biopsy will also continue as normal.
