CT surgeon Dr Mohammad Azari, Wollongong Private CEO Adrian Bautista, cardiologist Dr Ed Danson, NSW state manager Lloyd Hill, and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District CEO Margot Mains. Photo: Supplied.
Wollongong Private Hospital has marked a major milestone for the region’s healthcare, performing its 1000th cardiac procedure just three years after introducing advanced cardiac services to provide lifesaving care and innovative treatments closer to home.
Performed in October, the milestone procedure was a coronary artery bypass graft aimed at treating coronary artery disease and extending life expectancy, a procedure that has benefited hundreds of Illawarra Shoalhaven residents.
The first cardiac surgery in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region was performed at Wollongong Private Hospital in October 2021.
Wollongong Private Hospital CEO Adrian Bautista said it had experienced incredible innovation since that day three years ago, going on to perform 1000 potentially lifesaving procedures.
“This milestone is a moment to reflect on the incredible work of the health care providers involved, and the hundreds of local patients who’ve been able to access leading cardiac care close to home,” Mr Bautista said.
“Care which at times included minimally invasive and non-surgical treatment options like the mitral valve clip procedure we recently introduced here at Wollongong Private, which is an alternative to open heart surgery and which was previously only available in Sydney.”
Introduced this year, mitral valve clip is an advanced technique that offers faster recovery, reduced pain, and a lifesaving option for patients unable to undergo traditional surgery because of the risk to their life.
At the time of its launch in May, the hospital’s interventional cardiologist Dr Ed Danson said there were numerous studies that showed convincingly much better outcomes for patients when their care was less fragmented, where everything from planning the procedure, performing it, recovery and follow-up were all delivered by the same team at the same location.
Mr Bautista said the public private partnership between Wollongong Private Hospital and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District was also a great example of public and private hospitals working together to deliver a world-class service for its community.
Wollongong Private Hospital cardiothoracic surgeon Professor Adam El-Gamel agreed, crediting the milestone to a dedicated team whose collaboration, innovation, and shared commitment had transformed patient care.
“The heart of this success lies in the exceptional team involved,” Professor El-Gamel said.
“Surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, and support staff, each of whom plays a crucial role in the seamless functioning of our operations.
“As we acknowledge our success and how far we have come in a relatively short time, we continue to look forward to foster innovation and continuous improvement.”
He said they now had an ongoing commitment to advancing cardiothoracic surgery through clinical research, with the hope that their many clinical studies would significantly contribute to further advances in scientific knowledge.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District CEO Margot Mains acknowledged the clinical collaboration and the robust partnership between Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Wollongong Private Hospital.
“The region’s first dedicated cardiothoracic surgical service continues to deliver significant benefits to our community,” Ms Mains said.
“A total of 572 public patients have received potentially lifesaving treatment since 2021, meaning local residents requiring complex procedures no longer have to travel to Sydney to access world-class cardiothoracic care.”
She said they looked forward to continuing to deliver health benefits to the region.
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