Royal Melbourne Hospital is closing beds because of federal government budget cuts.
The Age reported that while hospitals always scale back services over the Christmas-New Year holidays, Royal Melbourne is considering closing beds and operating theatres until mid-year.
Executive director Diane Gill told the paper that she initially planned to close an operating theatre and 45 beds from the end of this week under regular holiday closures.
The beds were due to reopen on 14 January, but will now stay closed until 4 February.
The hospital is also considering closing a 25-bed ward from 4 February until the end of June.
The Age said the closures would effectively cut 700 operations.
