New Theatre Means More Surgeries

New Theatre Means More Surgeries

A new $1 million operating theatre at Tauranga Hospital is great news for the people of a rapidly growing region such as the Bay of Plenty, according to orthopaedic surgeon Mr Andy Stokes.

“The opening of the eighth theatre will improve access to elective surgery as well as reduce the time people have to wait for acute orthopaedic surgery,” says Mr Stokes.

The state-of-the-art theatre is dedicated to acute orthopaedic surgeries such as fractures, dislocations and wound management – conditions resulting from falls in the elderly and playground injuries in children, to motor vehicle crashes and work accidents.

Of the 400-plus acute surgeries a month, more than half are orthopaedic and the high demand was affecting elective surgeries.

“Acute cases often need to take priority over elective surgeries and in the past, elective surgeries may have been postponed or delayed due to something more urgent.”

Since the new theatre opened, the waiting times for acute orthopaedic surgery have dramatically decreased and there have been no cancellations from the elective surgery list for management of acute orthopaedic trauma. Schedules are planned 12-24 hours in advance and the team have back up plans in place for times when there are few acute surgeries.

“We have patients on standby for elective surgery who are willing to come in at short notice,” says Mr Stokes. “All the surgeons have changed their timetables to accommodate the new theatre and look forward to improving access to elective orthopaedic services in the future.”

ENDS

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