South Shore Hospital To Resume Surgical Procedures

WEYMOUTH, MA — South Shore Health will soon resume surgeries for non-coronavirus-related patients starting with the most urgent procedures that have been delayed due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

South Shore Health Chair of Surgery Frederick Millham said that "the goal is open for all surgical (programs) soon."

"Delaying your surgery was necessary while we cared for a large number of critically ill patients with COVID-19," Millham said in a letter to the hospital community. "For the past weeks this unprecedented surge consumed most of our resources and attention. Our data now show that the new cases of COVID-19 presenting to our facilities are declining. As our resources become less strained, our leadership team has developed a plan for progressive resumption of our surgery programs."

Millham said the scheduling has begun for the most urgent patients, such as those with cancer or problems that are likely to worsen if not treated soon. As conditions persist, Millham said, services will be expanded to patients with less urgent diagnoses.

A sudden increase of coronavirus cases could cause South Shore Health to scale back the surgical program once again to direct resources to the new victims of the pandemic.

Visitor restrictions remain in place for South Shore Hospital in Weymouth "for the foreseeable future."

"We’ve taken every precaution to keep you safe, including screening everyone entering any of our buildings," Millham said.

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