Scheduling for many Queensland elective surgeries and outpatient appointments planned for the September 22 public holiday has been thrown into disarray.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the public holiday to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II at the weekend.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this morning that it was her understanding that elective surgery would not be postponed.
However, Queensland Health said in a statement the Palaszczuk Government was still "working through any impacts" the public holiday would have on health services.
In the private sector, a spokeswoman for UnitingCare Queensland hospitals, including the Wesley and St Andrew's in Brisbane, Buderim Private Hospital on the Sunshine Coast and St Stephen's Hospital in Hervey Bay, said they would "respect the national day of mourning".
"Due to the unexpected and unplanned public holiday, patients scheduled for surgery on this day will need to speak to their specialist to discuss their personal circumstances," the spokeswoman said.
But Ramsay Health Care, which runs 18 health facilities in Queensland, from Cairns in the far north to the Gold Coast in the south, said some elective surgeries and procedures would continue as planned on September 22 "where there is capacity to do so".
In a statement, a Ramsay Health Care spokeswoman said the decision to go ahead with some operations had been made "in recognition of the severe impact of COVID-19 disruptions on elective surgery over the past two years".
"We anticipate the new public holiday may impact some employees' work availability due to childcare and education provider closures and we are working quickly to update our rosters accordingly," the spokeswoman said.
"Employees required to work on September 22 will be paid applicable public holiday rates in accordance with their enterprise agreements."
The spokeswoman said some services, such as day programs and day infusion services, would be rescheduled "where clinically appropriate and in line with normal public holiday practices".
"Any patients who have questions are encouraged to contact their treating doctor or hospital," she said.
Ramsay Health Care hospitals include Greenslopes Private Hospital, North West Private Hospital, St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital, Caboolture Private Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, Noosa Hospital, Nambour Selangor Private Hospital, Pindara Private Hospital, John Flynn Private Hospital, Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital and Cairns Private Hospital.
GP clinics in 'mad scramble'
The Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton told ABC Local Radio 612 the public holiday would also impact general practice.
"I know that there are some GP clinics in some areas who already have 150 people booked on that day," Dr Boulton said.
"It's a mad scramble to try and sort something out for patients so that patients don't miss out."
Private medical specialist appointments, many scheduled months in advance, have also been affected.
Mr Albanese said the death of the monarch was a "once-in-a-lifetime event" and that it was important the historic event "is marked appropriately".
