Southern East Regional Hospital (SERH) is referring non-life or limb-threatening emergency surgical cases to The Canberra Hospital while one of the Bega hospital’s air-conditioner chillers is repaired.
Life or limb threatening cases and obstetric emergencies can still be safely performed on site as the hospital’s other air-conditioning chiller is still functional however elective surgical procedures scheduled up until February 10 have been postponed.
A Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson said work is underway to rebook urgent cases at The National Capital Private Hospital and other hospitals within Southern NSW Local Health District.
Patients with new referrals for urgent elective surgery during this time will be booked into other hospitals, in consultation with their surgeon and within clinically appropriate timeframes.
Southern NSW Local Health District has issued an apology to local patients for the inconvenience.
They would like to remind the community they should never hesitate to call an ambulance or seek direct treatment from the emergency department (ED) if they, or a loved one, is seriously unwell or injured.
Images: James Fennessy – East Coast Radio
