HOSPITAL NEWS
Robotic Surgery coming
to Cairns
Cairns prostate cancer sufferers will now be able to access the most advanced
surgical treatment available with Cairns Private Hospital announcing the
imminent installation of the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical Robot System.
The installation of the robot at Cairns Private Hospital will allow minimally invasive surgical
procedures to be conducted in a range of areas such as urology, gynaecology, ENT, colorectal
and general surgery.
Hospital CEO Shane Mitchell said that the robot coming to Cairns was only possible because
of an arrangement secured with the local public health system whereby a minimum number of
public patients will also be treated using the robot.
Mr. Mitchell said he was delighted that the da Vinci Xi Surgical System would allow minimally
invasive surgery to be available to Cairns patients and negate the need for them to travel to
Brisbane for this surgery.
In particular, the robot would be key to expanding urological services at the hospital with urologists
welcoming the availability of the technology for prostate cancer patients who currently have to travel
great distances to access robotic surgery.
Cairns Urologists have already been performing robotic surgery for prostate cancer for many
years in Brisbane and the introduction of a service in Cairns means more specialists in areas
like gynaecology and colorectal surgery will start to use the robot too.
Weighing up the obesity myth –
Warringal VMOs recognised in
SBS Documentary
Federal Health Minister visits
Joondalup Health Campus
Federal Health Minister Hon. Greg Hunt visited Joondalup Health Campus (JHC)
on Wednesday 3 August to learn more about the hospital’s success as a public
private partnership (PPP).
He was joined by Federal Government Minister for Social Services Christian Porter; Federal
Member for Moore Ian Goodenough; and Ramsay Health Care Operations Executive Manager -
WA and SA Hospitals, Kevin Cass-Ryall.
JHC Chief Executive Officer Kempton Cowan led a tour of the campus followed by a
presentation in the boardroom covering what makes for a successful PPP and providing an
overview of the hospital’s expansion plans.
8 The Ramsay Way 2017 | 02
CEO Cairns Private Hospital Shane Mitchell with Cairns Urologist Dr Phil Smith and
COO of Cairns Hospital Tina Chinnery
Federal Health Minister Hon. Greg Hunt, Minister for Social Services Christian Porter; Federal Member
for Moore Ian Goodenough; RHC Operations Executive Manager - WA & SA Hospitals, Kevin Cass-Ryall
& JHC CEO Kempton Cowan view the presentation.
Apart from Sumo wrestlers, most people
don’t choose to be fat.
However many morbidly obese patients are
frequently shamed and blamed for their condition
which is often variously perceived as a result of
“greed”, “lack of willpower” or “a lifestyle choice.”
However two Warringal Upper GI Surgeons Dr
Kiron Bhatia and Dr Ahmad Aly (the brother of The
Project’s Waleed Aly) were have been recognised for
challenging these entrenched misconceptions in a
compelling three-part documentary series aired on
SBS recently.
The doctors say a genetic predisposition is to blame
for our burgeoning obesity crisis.
The series, called The Obesity Myth followed the
struggle of morbidly obese patients up to 245kg as
they battle their biology to reclaim their lives via a
comprehensive weight loss program at Melbourne’s
Austin Hospital.
The treatment regime is a last resort for many patients
who are at risk of early death due to their weight and
uses a combination of diet, medication and bariatric
surgery to transform bodies and lives.
Well done to Dr Bhatia and Ahmad for highlighting the
struggle these patients go through and challenging
societal misconceptions about this chronic illness.