Advances in minimally invasive surgery have enabled Mater Hospital Brisbane to launch a Queensland-first trial that will see gynaecological cancer patients discharged on the same day as surgery. 

Mater Hospital Brisbane and Mater Private Hospital Brisbane Gynaecological Oncologist Dr Naven Chetty said the trial was only possible because of Mater’s long-held commitment to investing in minimally invasive surgery techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgeries. 

“The types of benefits we are talking about include smaller incisions, less pain, less bleeding, less potential for post-operative complications and patients that are mobile immediately after surgery,” Dr Chetty said. 

Dr Chetty said the accreditation reflected Mater’s dedication to high quality patient care and delivering the best possible outcome every time. 

It is this level of patient care, he said, that made the trial possible. 

“We will carefully select low-risk gynaecological cancer patients for the trial who would normally stay overnight after minimally invasive surgery, and provide them with the support they need to go home the same day as surgery. 

“Patients can recover in their own homes where they are most comfortable.” 

Dr Chetty said dedicated support staff will be on call if patients have questions or require support, along with an automatically scheduled telehealth call from a nurse the day after surgery. 

“The beds they vacate are then available for other gynaecological cancer patients requiring a higher level of care, so it really is win, win,” he said. 

Dr Chetty said Mater’s specialists also valued knowledge-sharing to enhance patient outcomes. 

“We have regular meetings with the anaesthetic doctors, the intensive care doctors, and the perioperative doctors as well as the medical oncology, radiation oncology and pathology teams,” he said. 

“All of that means we are consistently taking the best advice from across Mater to ensure we offer the best possible level of care to our patients. 

“This trial is one example of many elements of incremental positive change adding up to big benefits being delivered for the patients in our care every day.”