Neil Mitchell has taken aim at Daniel Andrews over “deeply offensive” and “ignorant” comments directed at surgeons.

Speaking on 3AW Mornings on Wednesday, leading orthopaedic surgeon Adrian Trivett called on the state government to reconsider the ban on elective surgeries, which he said has left operating theatres and hospital beds empty, and sick patients waiting unnecessarily.

When Mr Trivett’s concerns were later put to the Premier, he said “orthopaedic surgeons like to do surgery”.

“This is a difficult decision, a terribly difficult decision, but it is the right decision and we will get these surgeries back up and running as soon as possible. But I do take issue with any suggestion from anybody that these have been decisions made lightly, they’ve been given great consideration, they’ve been thought through very, very carefully,” Mr Andrews said.

Neil Mitchell says the Premier’s response was “wrong and offensive, deeply offensive”.

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Mitchell’s thoughts

“I know many doctors are furious about what the Premier said. It’s a huge insult to the medical profession, to surgeons and others who work their butts off for patients, Premier, not for themselves,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“Yes, they make money, yes, some of them have got a God complex. But their first concern is their patients and this what Mr Trivett was saying yesterday.

“What the Premier said was a cheap political stunt. It was offensive, it was ignorant, it was uncaring.

“I mean, has he forgotten what it’s like to be lying in intensive care, relying on the professionalism and compassion of the medical profession? The same people he insulted!

“There’s no way he would have been so insulting to a union or a union leader.

“He should apologise, but he won’t. He should recognise that without these people we are literally dead.”

Leading surgeon says ‘unfair’ elective surgery ban is harming patients

Neil Mitchell rips into Premier over ‘deeply offensive’ comments