Changing patterns in health services use and effects of care forgone: Associations between the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and Victorian's healthcare.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a “transformative shock” to our healthcare system since the first case was reported in January 2020. What associations have arisen between this transformative shock to Victorians and their use of healthcare services? Has equity of access been enhanced, maintained, or diminished during this crisis? Have there been unintended consequences of the changes in how healthcare is delivered? This report details changes in emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for several key paediatric and adult conditions and makes policy recommendations for each. We examined data from 2018-2020, accounting for seasonal and pre-existing trends in our interpretations.