NSW: Elective surgery wind-down during APEC: report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2007
NSW: Elective surgery wind-down during APEC: report

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Some of Sydney's major hospitals will reportedly halt or cut elective
surgery during next month's APEC summit.

The NSW health department has denied the shutdown, Fairfax reports today, but doctors
at the hospitals say they have been told resources will be freed up in case of a major
health disaster.

NSW Health Counter Disaster Unit head Greg Rochford has also confirmed an effort will
be made to "quieten down the health system" during the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC),
which will be held from September 2 to 9.

"I do know that they have reduced (elective surgery) ... the extent to which that has
occurred depends on each hospital's situation," Mr Rochford says in today's The Sydney
Morning Herald newspaper.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Reba Meagher said APEC would "not affect the health
system's performance on elective surgery".

AAP dr/rs

KEYWORD: APEC HOSPITALS

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