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The Ramsay Way - April 2017

HOSPITAL NEWS Cancer Images without the Pain at Hollywood Castlecrag jumps feet first into new bunion surgery More than 36 per cent of Australians will develop bunions in their lifetime – but the unsightly bulges that seem to keep on growing – now have a new, minimally invasive surgical option that offers patients reduced pain and recovery time. Castlecrag Private Hospital Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Peter Lam, is one of only a handful of surgeons in Australia trained in the technique – which replaces the single traditional 10cm surgical cut with four, 3mm surgical incisions made with a fine drill. “Bunions are not life-threatening but they are lifestyle threatening in many ways, and they grow bigger over time,” says Dr Lam. “Whilst high heels and pointy shoes don’t cause bunions, they can exacerbate them. Eventually bunions also cause the toe to move inwards towards the second toe causing a hammer toe, swelling and severe joint pain. “Many people with bunion pain tend to walk awkwardly and untreated bunions can also aggravate back and knee pain.” He said the new procedure involved an overnight stay and patients would be walking the next day. “And unlike traditional surgery this does not cause permanent stiffness in the big toe.” Castlecrag Private Hospital CEO Heidi Bayliss said the surgery offered patients a new chance to live pain free. “Bunion surgery in the past involved a big procedure. With minimally invasive surgery, both feet can be done at the same time and patients can return to driving after two weeks and sporting exercise after four weeks. “We are thrilled to offer local residents this very modern surgical procedure.” 10 The Ramsay Way 2017 | 01 Wollongong’s first babies: L:R – Lachlan, Elliot, Elsie, Edward, Eden. Wollongong Private turns ONE! A year has quickly passed since Wollongong Private Hospital opened its doors, and recently the hospital celebrated its birthday with a group of little patients who also reached this special milestone. Many of the very first babies born at Wollongong Private Hospital, along with the hospital’s first inpatients, revisited the facility to join in the birthday celebrations. Since Wollongong Private Hospital began servicing the region in January 2016, patients have had access to a number of new local private health care services such as advanced neurosurgery, interventional cardiology and day oncology. New equipment installed at the hospital, including the much anticipated Mazor Robot for spinal surgery, has meant that patients have access to world leading technologies without leaving the Illawarra. In its first year, Wollongong Private Hospital delivered 950 babies, admitted 15,000 patients and performed 14,000 surgical procedures. The new private hospital has also attracted 80 new doctors; employed 170 new staff and is a significant employer in the region with more than 530 employees. Ramsay Chief Operating Officer Kate Munnings; Regional Manager Malcolm Passmore, Hospital CEO David Crowe & Ramsay Australia CEO Danny Sims. First Patients L:R – Elaine, Robyne & Edmund. (Photos by Jennifer Vello Photography) Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging at Hollywood Private Hospital (Hollywood) has unveiled a new service, Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), which can detect nearly four times more cancers than mammograms in women with dense breast tissue. MBI uses an injected radiotracer which accumulates in cancer cells due to increased metabolic activity. MBI is not affected by breast density and is highly sensitive, enabling the detection of invasive breast cancers. It is also highly specific, and this leads to a reduction in the number of unnecessary biopsies. Unlike mammography, MBI does not require compression of the breast, merely immobilisation. Hollywood Nuclear Medicine Physician, Dr Joe Cardiac, said “MBI technology can increase early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts, who have an increased risk of breast cancer.” The molecular breast imaging camera detects four times more cancers than mammograms. More than one in three Australians can benefit from new minimally invasive bunion surgery . Unlike mammography, MBI does not require compression of the breast, merely immobilisation.


The Ramsay Way - April 2017
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