RED HOT TIP CONFIRMED

Elective surgeries have been cut by 50 per cent at private hospitals as the health system strains under the weight of rising COVID-19 cases.

Neil Mitchell has seen emails sent to staff at multiple private hospitals in Melbourne informing them that the state government has issued a directive to slash elective surgeries by half for at least a month.

Urgent surgeries can still proceed.

The Age reports all non-urgent elective surgeries at COVID-19 hospitals have also been halted.

The state government has not yet made an announcement on the changes.

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