ALMOST a dozen elective surgeries a day are being postponed in Canberra due to the health system experiencing high demand.

Specialist clinics across are also being closed daily to deal with staffing shortages.

Up to 11 elective surgeries a day were being postponed at Canberra Hospital with Canberra Health Services chief executive Dave Peffer saying the system was “feeling the strain”.

“We know winter is coming but the demand is already here and we are feeling it at the front door of all of our services particularly our emergency department and our walk-in centres but also in every aspect of the health service we are feeling the strain,” Mr Peffer said.

Mr Peffer said that “continual” workforce shortages have meant a range of specialist clinics are being closed.

One cancer clinic had to reduce its services last week due to staff being off.

“Last week we were missing all our junior medical officers in our cancer service largely due to covid and we had to relocate all our consultants out on the wards, which meant we had to slow the clinic activity in cancer for the better part of the week,” said Mr Peffer.

COVID-19 hospitalisations remain high across Canberra with 85 patients in hospital with the virus today (May 26) including one in intensive care.

Mr Peffer said emergency departments at both Canberra Hospital and Calvary were under “sustained” pressure.

“The clinical director at Calvary Hospital – who heads up the ED – shared with me they only had one of their senior medical officers off today – due to covid leave – which for them is a good day as its been many months since that was the case.”