ST JOHN of God Ballarat Hospital has stopped all on-site outpatient appointments and cut hospital visitors in a move to better protect patients and staff amid the pandemic.
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This follows precautionary restrictions also taken across all Ballarat Health Services sites earlier this week.
In a statement to The Courier, St John's said it had been been working closely with BHS in determining a proactive and cautious approach in the best interesting in the community, given the emergence of fresh COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria.
Visitor exceptions will be considered for support persons for patients who are children, palliative care, patients with a disability and maternity patients. All approved visitors must wear a face mask, provided by the hospital.
This is the same ruling as BHS Base Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Centre.
All oncology patients in St John's day oncology centre Anam Cara and other high-risk patients will also be required to wear face masks.
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St John's made clear the hospital had an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to meet this increase in demand for use.
Outpatient appointments will continue, but via telehealth services.
St John's has also confirmed its surgery capacity remains at 100 per cent.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday there would be no changes to elective surgery in regional hospitals while a pause was put on category three surgery in metropolitan hospitals.
Premier Andrews said the government would continue to work with regional hospital to ensure they were prepared for a potential shift in increased coronavirus needs.
St John's and BHS have been working in partnership on Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for surgery.
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