South West Healthcare aiming for elective surgery return October 18

South West Healthcare aims to return to 100 per cent elective surgery capacity from October 18.

For the past few weeks elective surgeries were reduced to just category 1 and 2 urgent and semi-urgent procedures along with emergency surgery.

Related: There are now 1289 active coronavirus cases across regional Victoria

The hospital's executive director of nursing and midwifery Gaynor Stevenson said St John of God Warrnambool Hospital had been working with SWH since the beginning of the pandemic and throughout the recent outbreak.

"Public patients are scheduled where available theatre sessions exist, thereby reducing the impact on private cases," Ms Stevenson said.

Over the last month to October 11, St John of God has assisted SWH with 38 cases.

The Warrnambool Base Hospital has been operating its elective surgery at approximately 56 per cent since the beginning of the current COVID-19 cluster.

Ms Stevenson said SWH aimed to have elective surgery back to full capacity from next week.

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