Wollongong Private Hospital has offered to ease the burden for the city's public hospital as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise across the nation.
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Wollongong Private Hospital CEO David Crowe said the hospital was on standby to ease the surgical burden to to ensure the area's main public health facility had the capacity to cater for COVID-19 patients.
"As Wollongong Public Hospital readies itself for an influx of confirmed coronavirus cases, Wollongong Private Hospital is willing and able to help to lighten the region's public elective surgery lists to prevent a backlog of cases down the track," Mr Crowe said.
"We are willing and able to perform a range of urology, general surgery and orthopaedic cases to lighten the load on Wollongong Public Hospital as the impact of the coronavirus continues to evolve and develop."
Mr Crowe said while the community "faced the unknown" in terms of the extent of the impact of COVID-19 in the Illawarra, it was vital that health providers worked together.
He said Wollongong Private Hospital was well-resourced and well-prepared to manage the impacts of COVID-19.
"All Ramsay Health Care facilities have strict infection control and prevention protocols along with well-established systems and staff to protect healthcare workers, patients and visitors," he said.
The health provider had created a COVID-19 response team, and were working closely with local public health units in each region.
Any patients who were feeling unwell should first check their symptoms against those listed for COVID-19 on the Australian Government's Department of Health website and to phone their GP or 13 HEALTH for advice if concerned.
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