As the Covid situation develops, Lismore's St Vincent’s Private Hospital has implemented changes to help support the local community through this challenging time.

All non-urgent elective surgery will cease at St Vincent’s Hospital, with the exception of same-day procedures and other critical procedures as permitted.

Read more Covid news: Covid update: Lismore case numbers second highest in district

This comes after the NSW Ministry of Health imposed special conditions on all private health facilities as of 10^th January.

St Vincent’s chief executive, Steve Brierley, said specialists will have communicated these changes to their patients directly.

“The aim is to increase the capacity of the local health system to meet the demands of the pandemic and increase the availability of trained health staff to support the response to COVID-19,” he said.

“We have also offered to support the Northern NSW Local Health District during the COVID-19 pandemic. We realise the public health system is being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

“The health district contacted us saying they needed more beds and asked if we could help. 

"St Vincent’s has responded by putting systems in place to alleviate pressure on our public health system and to provide additional support for our community.”

Mr Brierley said St Vincent’s opened a vacant ward in order to accommodate non COVID-19 patients from Lismore Base Hospital.

“We admitted over 20 patients to our hospital, with capacity for some more. We have increased our medical officer support this week to ensure patient care is of the highest order,” he said.

“This has been done very quickly and professionally, in partnership with the Northern NSW Local Health District, and it’s working out very well.”

Mr Brierley also paid tribute to the St Vincent’s workforce.

“I am very proud of how our staff, although naturally concerned themselves, have remained committed to the care of our patients and residents with incredible professionalism and commitment,” he said.