Surgery postponed as coronavirus crisis grips nation

A $700 million funding boost from the state government could help move surgery procedures forward across New South Wales.

Carol Ashby was one patient who was supposed to be having surgery today.

She was scheduled to undergo an operation to treat crippling arthritic pain in her foot – but instead she is at work, after Prince of Wales Hospital postponed the procedure.

"My answer to that was, 'is this for the coronavirus', and they said, yes, we need to keep beds free," Ms Ashby told 9News.

It's the second time the 52-year-old has had her operation postponed, after it was called off in December due to bushfire smoke.

Prince of Wales and St Vincent's are the latest public hospitals to delay the majority of non-urgent operations, following St George yesterday.

But the state government says help is on the way in the form of a $700 million funding boost.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the funds would increase capacity in our intensive care units, emergency departments, and operating theatres.

The money will also go to private hospitals, to help ease the burden of taking on some surgical patients.

"We might be able to therefore move people forward, who might have been otherwise waiting months for their elective surgery," Mr Hazzard said.

9News can reveal more than 6400 patients had their surgery cancelled on the day of the procedure last year.

But in the meantime, the Health Minister is pleading with patients to wait a little longer.

"Hopefully you will extend that compassion to your fellow man and just understand it might be a bit of a delay," he said.