"The mix of surgeries and other procedures ... and the scheduling of theatre sessions [are] a matter for local clinicians," Ms Courtney said.

"They are the experts and we trust them to make the decisions that are in the best interests of patients and clinical outcomes."

Related: Health union worried about surgery cuts at Mersey Community Hospital

This follows the Health and Community Services Union expressing concern about the impact of budget cuts on surgery procedures on Wednesday.

The union claimed urology has decreased to one session a month instead of once a fortnight, ophthalmology has decreased to one day per fortnight instead of once a week, and ear, nose and throat surgery has decreased to one list a month instead of one a fortnight.

Ms Courtney said she had been advised that the level of surgical related activity at the Mersey will be maintained in 2019-20.

"There is no better supporter of the Mersey than the Hodgman Liberal government," Ms Courtney said.

"In 2018-19, $80.9 million of funding was provided to the Mersey. This increases to $83.7 million this financial year."

Labor Braddon MHA Anita Dow said staff reports of elective surgeries being halved point to a dramatic downgrade of services at the Mersey.

"One of the key outcomes of the Health White Paper was that the Mersey Community Hospital would become an elective surgery centre and perform up to 75 per cent of all elective surgery procedures in the state," Ms Dow said.

"Yet Labor is continuing to hear reports from staff that services are being downgraded.

"Sarah Courtney appears to be in denial about the impact of her government's systematic underfunding of health, which is undermining services across the state."