New service to benefit Sunshine Coast women’s health

Brisbane, April 4 (MCCQ Newsdesk, Ministerial Press Release)

* Nambour General Hospital will soon offer a new service which will allow women to have a hysteroscopy procedure performed under local anaesthetic in as little as one to two hours.

* Currently, patients stay in hospital for six to 14 hours to undergo the procedure.

* The Outpatient Hysteroscopy Service is set to benefit hundreds of local women each year and minimise disruption to their daily lives.

Sunshine Coast women requiring medical care for certain uterine issues will be able to undergo hysteroscopies performed under local anaesthetic.

In a boost to women’s services across the region, Nambour General Hospital is set to open an Outpatient

Hysteroscopy Service, which will reduce a women’s hospital stay from up to 14 hours, to just one or two.

A hysteroscopy is a procedure that uses a small camera to look inside the uterus, or womb. It is used to diagnose or treat problems with the uterus.

The service has been spearheaded by Obstetrics and Gynaecology Senior Registrar Dr Adeline Foo, who saw the opportunity to enhance women’s healthcare locally.

Sunshine Coast Health foundation Wishlist, helped to fundraise for the equipment and services as part of their annual giving day.

Sunshine Coast Health aims to offer the Outpatient Hysteroscopy Service during the second half of 2024.

Minister for Health and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman finds the new initiative a gamechanger. She says,

“This new service will be a gamechanger for so many women on the Sunshine Coast.

“Undergoing a hysteroscopy can be uncomfortable and cause anxiety for many women who need to undergo this procedure.

“This innovative service will significantly minimise the time women have to stay in hospital, reduce recovery time and lower the need for unnecessary surgery.

“The Miles Government is offering more healthcare choices for Queensland women and investing in services that respond to their health and wellbeing.”

Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton talks on behalf of health care staff,

“Our health staff do a fantastic job caring for our community’s health needs, and this new initiative highlights their dedication to delivering high-quality healthcare.

“I’m stoked that more women living on the Sunny Coast will be able to access the healthcare they need, closer to home.”

Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt advocates for facilities,

“Our government is proud to be delivering more beds, more staff, and more services here on the Sunny Coast.

“We’re so lucky to have health heroes like Dr Foo who ensure we have the best of the best when it comes to healthcare.”

Sunshine Coast Health Obstetrics and Gynaecology Senior Registrar Dr Adeline Foo is incharge of this project.

“Currently there is no option for a hysteroscopy to be performed in an outpatient setting meaning patients have to stay in hospital for six to 14 hours to have the procedure,” Dr Foo said.

“However, under this new model, hysteroscopies could be performed in just one to two hours under local anaesthetic allowing them to leave hospital the same day.

“This service will benefit at least 350 women per year, improving their outpatients’ experience, avoiding risks associated with general anaesthesia and reducing length of hospital stay so they can get back to routine activities.”