Surgeon shares his concern over ‘disruptive’ impact of public holiday mourning Queen

A Melbourne surgeon has aired his concerns about the impact the public holiday called to honour the Queen will have on the healthcare system.

Ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Eric Levi says the public holiday on September 22 will have a significant “disruptive” impact on the healthcare system because it’s been called at such short notice.

“All elective surgery and all elective clinics will be cancelled unfortunately,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“About 60 or so cancer patients in our public cancer clinic are supposed to turn up on that day. Many of them come from … the country, and some from interstate, and they will have to be rebooked.

“I’ve got about eight patients already on that operating list.

“They are unable to have their procedures done unless the private hospital or the public hospital continues to maintain that services, which will of course attract public holiday award rates for all their staff as well.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Dr Levi is concerned

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