HOSPITALNEWS Sunshine Coast patients to benefit from new Cardiac Services Sunshine Coast residents requiring interventional cardiac treatment will benefit from new cardiac services at the Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital (SCUPH) in Kawana which commenced in June. The first interventional cardiac procedure was performed by Coast cardiologist Dr Peter Larsen in the hospital’s catheter laboratory. Interventional cardiology involves opening up blockages or narrowings in coronary arteries with tiny balloons and leaving a stent to keep the artery open thereby improving the blood supply to the heart muscle. SCUPH CEO Oliver Steele said the hospital had installed state-of-the-art cardiac catheter laboratory equipment enabling angioplasty and stent implantation to be undertaken by leading cardiologists who are based at the hospital. 8 The Ramsay Way - 2014 | 02 “In preparation for the commencement of the interventional cardiology service, Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital has invested close to $2 million and has a dedicated Intensive Care Unit and the Coast’s only private cardiology ward,” Mr Steele said. The interventional cardiac procedures will be performed by a number of the Sunshine Coast’s leading interventional cardiologists. SCUPH Cardiologist Dr Peter Larsen said the introduction of interventional cardiology at the new private hospital at Kawana was a significant first step towards the establishment of comprehensive cardiac services at this central health hub on the Sunshine Coast. “In the near future, we foresee both public and private hospitals on this campus offering extensive cardiac services and look forward to offering Sunshine Coast patients a world class centre for cardiology here,” Dr Larsen said. Glengarry Private Hospital experienced a special moment when the first baby girl born at Glengarry returned to have her own baby in Apirl this year. Alison Limb and her husband Clint Ackerman welcomed their baby boy James on the 30 April. Glengarry Private Hospital’s CEO, Dani Meinema, said: “As a hospital caring for the local community, it is wonderful to celebrate this truly special occasion. Seeing our first baby girl born at the hospital return to have her first baby 36 years later is amazing. “Even more remarkable is the fact that two of the midwives that cared for Alison and her mother are still working at Glengarry and were able to be a part of this memorable occasion. “These celebrations are a true reflection of the care and community spirit at Glengarry.” One of the midwives present at the birth was also working when Alison was born 35 years ago. “I have been present at many births of babies who have returned to have their own baby. These are all wonderful and special occasions and continually make my job a rewarding and exciting one.” April Falls Day at Mt Wilga ‘Medicate Right to Stay Upright’ was the theme for Mt Wilga’s April Falls Day on 1 April this year. Patients and carers were educated about the risk of falls; links between nutrition and falls and planning safe discharge to avoid future falls and the importance of staying active. Landmark treatment for Hep C trialed at Greenslopes Millions of hepatitis C sufferers around the world could benefit from a new treatment that works in half the time of existing treatment with considerably less side effects. Findings from the study, which has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, cite a 96% virological cure rate for hepatitis. Professor Darrell Crawford (pictured) who is the Director of Research at Greenslopes Private Hospital’s Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation and a co-author on the study said that this was major advance in the therapy of hepatitis C. The Clinical Trials Unit at Greenslopes was the first site to enrol a patient in the trial outside of the US. Professor Crawford said that these findings have the potential to have a huge positive impact on millions of patients suffering from hepatitis C around the world. It is estimated that 130-150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C. (World Health Organisation, 2014). “This is encouraging news for around a quarter of a million Australians living with hepatitis C. Findings from the trial show the sustained viral response (SVR) rate for hepatitis C was 96% in patients with the type 1 genotype using this new treatment regime,” Professor Crawford said. Current hepatitis C treatments include medications administered via injections for 24-48 weeks, which often cause many severe side effects, such as anxiety and depression. Treatment in this study was administered orally for only 12 weeks with less than 1% of trial participants discontinuing due to side effects. Glengarry’s first baby girl returns to have her first baby EVEN MORE REMARKABLE IS THE FACT THAT TWO OF THE MIDWIVES THAT CARED FOR ALISON & HER MOTHER ARE STILL WORKING AT GLENGARRY & WERE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS MEMORABLE OCCASION PHOTO JOHN MCCHUTCHEON/APN
The Ramsay Way - Winter 2014
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