Newspaper Article 1994 – Fibre-optic technology among $500,000 equipment cost

Fibre-optic technology among $500,000 equipment cost

New Zealand’s most advanced surgery right on your doorstep – that’s the service offered by Royston Hospital’s newly revamped surgical unit.

More than $500,000 has been spent on equipment to ensure Royston’s three operating theatres offer patients the best in health care.

Two completely new theatres have been built, including a specially designed endoscopy theatre. This uses the latest fibre-optic technology to allow surgeons to examine the stomach and colon without the need for invasive surgery.

Surgeon and hospital director, Jay Tyler said the development of the hospital’s surgical facilities would also allow the expansion of minimal access surgery, sometimes known as keyhole surgery.

No wounds

This technique allows surgeons to conduct internal operations without the need to open the patient. A tiny fibre- optic camera and light are inserted into the patient and the surgeon operates by remote control, watching the process on a television screen.

The result of using this technique is a faster recovery time. Without painful wounds patients can be up and about much more quickly, leading to both time and cash saving.

Minimal access surgery is an important element in the hospital’s growing day-patient programme. Forty per cent of those treated at Royston are not admitted to the hospital overnight, but go home after their operation.

Mr Tyler said Royston is one of a growing number of hospitals worldwide which allow patients to go home soon after minor operations.

Home same day

He said patients are taken to the operating theatre and after to a recovery room where they remain until they feel well enough to leave. This can take anything up to several hours.

Some clinics operate solely on this day-patient basis, but Mr Tyler said those who attend Royston receive the same treatment as patients admitted overnight.

“The same theatres, same equipment, same staff,” he said.

“The only difference is that they come into the theatre through a different door and they leave the recovery room, through a different exit. The treatment is the same.”

The day-patient system is particularly appropriate for children or the elderly, who may prefer to be in familiar surroundings. A few hours after the operation they can be back home, surgery completed.

Expansion hopes

At the moment, day surgery is confined to minor procedures such as glue ear and skin tumours. However, in future the hospital hopes to follow overseas’ trends and expand into more complicated surgery.

The design of the new facilities was a team effort, hospital staff consulting with architects to fine-tune the design. Even the colour scheme was specially chosen according to staff specifications. Another feature is the sound system, which allows theatre staff to listen to compact discs or the radio while operating.

“We would be one of the most advanced in New Zealand, and that’s no exaggeration,” Mr Tyler said.

“The success of the design is largely due to the staff – it’s been a team effort.”

Photo caption – Follow the light – surgeon Jay Tyler demonstrates one of the hospital’s new $22,000 endoscopy probes.