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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Adeshola Ore

Elective surgeries may soon be delayed due to staff shortages, Victorian hospital body says

An emergency sign outside of a suburban Melbourne hospital
The Victoria Healthcare Association says hospitals are experiencing a ‘difficult time again’ due to increasing Covid cases, backfilling of leave and furloughed staff. Photograph: Luis Ascui/AAP

Victoria’s peak public hospital body has warned elective surgeries could be wound back if demand for emergency care spikes during a predicted surge in Covid cases in the coming weeks.

The state’s Department of Health confirmed to Guardian Australia that four health services across the state were already not meeting the minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

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