New theatres boost Cairns surgery options

08/08/24

Residents of Queensland’s Far North no longer need to travel long distances for surgery, after Cairns Private Hospital unveiled a multi-million-dollar redevelopment.

The hospital now boasts a new state-of-the-art operating theatre, and an extra shell to cater for future growth.

The redevelopment also features new pre-operative and patient holding areas, anaesthetic stores, doctor and nurse offices, and a new sterilising department (CSSD).

Cairns Private Hospital CEO Ben Tooth said the development would deliver a much-needed boost to the Ramsay Health Care facility’s capacity, allowing it to provide quality services for the community.

“Having an additional operating theatre allows extra theatre time for our surgeons, and enables more patients to have their surgery sooner, right here in Cairns,” he said.

“We’ve also invested in state-of-the-art technology for the theatre, ensuring Cairns locals have access to modern procedures, and to help us attract leading surgeons to the region.”

The new facilities mean surgery in specialities including ENT (ear, nose and throat), orthopaedics, urology, plastics, vascular will be able to be performed in Cairns, as well as general surgery.

The hospital now features eight fully-equipped operating theatres and a ninth theatre shell, which Mr Tooth said could be transformed into a working theatre quickly when required.

“Our existing seven theatres have been well-utilised, often being used on weekends to accommodate demand,” he said.

“We expect our new theatre will be no different.

“The ninth theatre, which is yet to be fully fitted out, was built as part of our planning for future growth of the hospital. 

“Once we determine exactly what procedures are needed in the region, we can fit out the theatre accordingly.”

Mr Tooth said the new CSSD was “well equipped” to manage the hospital’s additional responsibilities, brought on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The CSSD is responsible for the collection, decontamination, assembling, packing, sterilisation, storing, and distribution of sterile goods and equipment, to patient care areas,” he said.

“This critical role within the hospital has become even more important in recent years.”