Non-urgent Elective Surgery Postponed due to COVID-19 Lockdown
In response to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, non-urgent elective surgery will be temporarily postponed at Broken Hill Hospital for the duration of the stay-at-home orders for regional areas.
All emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue to be performed during this challenging period.
Those waiting for non-urgent elective surgery who are impacted by the changes will be contacted and encouraged to contact their referring doctor should their condition in any way deteriorate, so they can be reviewed and re-prioritised to a more urgent category if required.
This response is a necessary step to ensure we keep staff, patients and members of the public safe and to support increased testing capacity in the community, and ensure there is hospital bed availability should the need arise.
This measure was previously implemented in March 2020 following a decision by National Cabinet, and will ensure the resources and capacity required for the COVID-19 response are maintained during the current outbreak.
Non-urgent elective surgery has also been temporarily postponed at public hospitals in Greater Sydney, excluding the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Central Coast Local Health Districts, from Monday, 2 August.
The temporary postponement of elective surgery at Broken Hill Hospital follows the detection of traces of the COVID-19 virus at the Broken Hill sewage treatment plant. It will allow staff to be redeployed to respond to the increased demand for COVID-19 testing in the area.
The Far West Local Health District urges everyone in the area to monitor for the onset of symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of taste or smell. Other reported symptoms include fatigue, acute blocked nose (congestion), muscle pain, joint pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unexplained chest pain and conjunctivitis. If symptoms appear, however mild, people are asked to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
High testing rates are critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
There are more than 440 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest testing clinic, visit our website
Testing clinics in Far West LHD include:
COVID Drive Thru testing clinic at Memorial Oval, 8am to 5pm, seven days a week. Entry is via Williams Street. Everyone is asked to follow the traffic control directions, and exit is via Warnock Street (left turn only).
Pop Up COVID testing clinics from 10am to 4pm and running daily until further notice in the following communities:
Dareton - George Gordon Oval,
Gol Gol - Gol Gol Football Oval, off Caramar Driver
Wentworth - Wentworth Show Grounds
Balranald - Greenham Park Hall
Ivanhoe - Sports Ground
Menindee - Menindee Oval, entrance through Perry Street
White Cliffs - White Cliffs Sporting Club , entry through Ethel Street
Wilcannia - Wilcannia Oval, 9am to 4pm
Testing and screening is also available at the Royal Flying Doctor Base and Maari Ma.