Plastics and reconstructive surgery is now being offered at a local health service, so patients with less-complex needs who require a day procedure may be seen quicker.
The new service has been introduced at Caloundra Health Service.
Sunshine Coast Health medical co-director of plastics Dr Ryan Livingston said it had always been the goal to expand the service since it opened at Sunshine Coast University Hospital six years ago.
“The flow of Caloundra is great because it’s been set up for a rapid-turnover day surgery, and it’s a small area – it means that everything is much more efficient while still providing optimal care,” Dr Livingston said.
“Somebody that’s going to need an overnight stay or maybe has a very complicated medical history and is very unwell, they may not be the appropriate patient for Caloundra, but somebody that has a small day case-like procedure where they can walk in and have the procedure and go home, which can still be under an anaesthetic – they are perfect for that sort of environment.”
Currently the plastic surgery patient list is being run out of Caloundra one to two days a week, with plans to expand.
“All the consultants do a turn working out there, and we’re very fortunate that we have some of the best surgeons in the world working in the hospital and in our unit, and every one of them is highly skilled,” Dr Livingston said.
The majority of patients currently being booked in are for skin lesions.
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Roslyn Thompson was diagnosed with three basal-cell carcinoma skin cancers late last year – two on her face and one on her scalp.
“So I found out in November last year, and at that time I wasn’t given the option of plastic surgery as an option to remove them, even though they’re in quite prominent places, on my nose and my scalp and my forehead, and so I changed doctor and then I was told about this amazing system that I can actually get it removed in through the hospital,” she said.
“When I was on the waiting list and accepted and they said they could do it within three months, it was the biggest relief because it’s so upsetting when you have these things happen to you and you have to spend exorbitant amounts of money to get yourself fixed.”
Feedback from the first patients through has been that while having surgery can be nerve-wracking, the environment and staff at Caloundra have made them feel more at ease.
“I just feel so thankful for everyone here, they’ve just been so amazing, so lovely and I feel so looked after here and cared for, and it’s just a wonderful service they’re offering,” Ms Thompson said.
