Women in New South Wales’ Mid North Coast region no longer need to travel to Sydney or Brisbane for gynaecological procedures thanks to the extension of robotic surgery services at Port Macquarie Private Hospital.
Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Masih Ashrafy has performed the first such operation using the Ramsay Health Care facility’s da Vinci system.
Supported by Dr Dean Conrad from Ramsay’s Kareena Private Hospital in Sydney, he successfully completed a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy – removal of the womb and fallopian tubes.
Previously, patients might have needed to travel almost 400 kilometres south to Sydney for such procedures, or 550km north to Brisbane.
“The robot allows us to perform surgeries with minimal invasion, which can mean shorter hospital stays and a less painful recovery for patients,” Dr Ashrafy said.
“Once trained, surgeons can use it for many gynaecological surgeries, offering a new option for traditional procedures.
“This is a great opportunity for patients who want to have minimally-invasive gynaecological procedures close to home.”
Port Macquarie Private Hospital introduced the robot technology in 2020, and until this year it had been used for urology and general surgery procedures.
CEO Moira Finch said she was pleased to be able to extend the benefits of the da Vinci system to gynaecology patients.
“Port Macquarie Private Hospital has invested in technology designed to improve patient experience and outcomes,” she said.
“I’m delighted even more local community members can benefit from this state-of-the-art technology in their own region.”
