New Operating Theatres And Peri-Operative Services Open

New Operating Theatres And Peri-Operative Services Officially Open

New operating theatres and peri-operative services officially open in Waikato Hospital’s $130million Meade Clinical Centre this evening (Friday 26 July).

And Waikato residents can expect some of the latest in medical technology as the services get ready to go-live.

Tonight’s opening ceremony will celebrate four new acute operating theatres dedicated to acute procedures, one hybrid operating theatre for multidisciplinary specialist procedures, and two peri-operative services; Day of Surgery Admission (DOSA) and Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU).

New Theatres_16Jul2013_0040 ModThe new state-of-the-art hybrid operating theatre is the first of its kind in New Zealand. It is a single room for all vascular and trauma procedures, and both interventional and open surgery.

“The hybrid theatre merges the technology of a radiology suite with a standard operating room for advanced hybrid image-guided minimally invasive surgery. It is equipped with advanced medical imaging devices and has the ability to manage a much broader range of procedures than a non-hybrid room,” Waikato DHB equipment manager Daniel McKay said.

“Ultimately, the surgeon has an improved tool to quickly assess and treat internal injuries with minimal disruption to the patient,” he said.

And quality has clearly gone uncompromised with equipment, lights and pendants in the hybrid theatre alone sitting at $1.7million. Mr McKay worked with Philips and Maquet to coordinate the equipment installation.

Unit manager Aileen McGowan said the new technology ensures Waikato Hospital will be at the cutting edge of surgery for the coming years.

Copy of MCC Theatre update_19-07-13_0095

“Patients also now have a ‘one-stop shop’ - they can arrive on the same floor and leave from the same areas. DOSA is purpose built to provide efficiency of service for increased patient flow,” she said.

“One of the big things is that we have a lovely clean and spacious environment. I am personally looking forward to seeing the teams in their new environments.”

All new theatres have been on lockdown for a clinical clean and a particle count in preparation for their go-live after the opening.

With 16 pre-existing operating theatres including those on Levels 7 and 8 of Menzies Building, Waikato Hospital now has an impressive 21 operating theatres in total.

Level 2 Meade Clinical Centre is the acute floor open 24 hours and has 12 theatres in total including the hybrid theatre. Level 3 Meade Clinical Centre has nine theatres including eye theatres and day surgery cases, with future capacity to grow. DOSA and PACU areas are located on both levels.

This opening precedes the opening of the new Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories in early August.

Waikato DHB has recruited more than 100 support staff including nurses, educators, enrolled nurses, anaesthetic technicians, sterile services technicians, health care assistants and an assistant clinical nurse manager to support the new theatres and Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories.

ENDS

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