The state government’s decision to cut elective surgery bookings for the next eight weeks as it braces for a surge in COVID cases will add extra pressure to waitlists, which have increased by 10,000 to almost 30,000 patients in the past four years.

WA hospitals have been told to stop booking non-urgent elective surgeries from February 28, the directive part of its plan to manage the growth in cases in coming weeks.

Australasian College of Emergency Medicine WA deputy chair Dr Nicole Liesis told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings the hospital system was already over-stretched.

“There’s been increasing need, increasing admission, increasing surgical lists, but there has been a reduction in the percentage per population of hospital beds,” she said.

“You know, [they’re] trying to keep money out of it, but money makes the system run, and there just hasn’t been that investment.”

Tap PLAY below to hear more of the chat.