Major hospitals could extend Christmas shutdown periods, stop weekend surgeries and close theatres in an effort to meet tough new budget expectations.
Hospitals across the state have been asked to make massive savings, some sources have estimated at more than $1bn, with cost saving models now under assessment by the state government who will finalise budgets in coming weeks.
Leaked details from those cost saving submissions reveal hospitals have put the government on notice that they could be forced to slash frontline services including stripping back surgeries and extending a standard two-week Christmas shutdown from two weeks to six weeks.
Health sources said such initiatives would wreak havoc with hospital waiting lists and cause significant delays for some surgeries.
The government has also been warned that demanding such significant savings, which have been estimated between 10 and 40 per cent in some instances, would force widespread bed closures.
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