Just three years after welcoming leading cardiac care to the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, the team at Wollongong Private Hospital has celebrated its 1,000th cardiac procedure.
The milestone procedure, performed in October, was a coronary artery bypass graft designed to treat coronary artery disease and increase life expectancy and which has now been performed on hundreds of Illawarra Shoalhaven locals.
Wollongong Private Hospital CEO, Adrian Bautista said the last three years had seen incredible innovation along with the 1,000 potentially life-saving 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.”
“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,” Mr Bautista said.
“The Public Private Partnership between Wollongong Private Hospital and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is a fantastic example of public and private hospitals working together to deliver a world-class service for the local community.”
Wollongong Private Hospital cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Adam El-Gamel said the milestone was possible thanks to a team driven by collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients.
“The heart of this success lies in the exceptional team involved. Surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, and support staff, each of whom plays a crucial role in the seamless functioning of our operations,” Professor El-Gamel said.
“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. We remain committed to advancing the field of cardiothoracic surgery through clinical research and hope that our many clinical studies contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.”
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Chief Executive, Margot Mains said: “This milestone is testament to excellent 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.”
“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. We look forward to continuing to deliver health benefits to the people of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven,” said Ms Mains.
The first cardiac surgery in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region was performed at Wollongong Private Hospital in October 2021.
