Like several other hospitals in the region, the influx of covid patients to Södra Älvsborgs hospital has increased recently.

Two weeks ago, eight covid-19 patients were cared for at the hospital.

On Wednesday, 26 people were in covid care, which is a tripling of the number of corona patients.

On Wednesday, the hospital therefore decided to cancel planned care, which Borås Tidning is the first to report.

- We have reached a limit where we must prioritize.

Our staff had to work hard this spring and now it is important that we do not wear them out at the same time as we ensure that the care we provide is as good as possible, says Nina Widfeldt, acting chief physician at SÄS.

Approximately 10-15 percent of planned care is canceled

Tomorrow, the patients who have their care canceled can expect to be called.

Nina Widfeldt estimates that this is about 10-15 percent of the planned care that is currently being put on hold.

- It is about certain operations and reception visits.

We continue with the important surgical care, such as cancer care, says Nina Widfeldt.

Hope for a better position than last spring

At the same time, she points out that the situation at the hospital is far from as acute as it was last spring.

An argument she bases on the low number of covid patients who are in intensive care.

- Now we only have one, possibly two people who are in intensive care for covid-19.

This is a big difference compared to last spring, when the number of IVA patients was much higher in the beginning.

It's very positive.

I have a hard time believing that we will end up in the same situation as last spring, she says.

Last week, Sahlgrenska Hospital also decided to cancel operations.

Hear Per Karlsson, first chief physician, tell more in the clip below.

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Sahlgrenska University Hospital has decided to pause all non-prioritized surgery in order to have the power to cope with an expected increase in covid patients.

Photo: SVT