Family’s donation helps Bayside women access innovative surgery

Women in Brisbane’s bayside can now undergo complex gynaecological procedures locally at Mater Private Hospital Redland thanks to the generosity and legacy of an Ormiston family.

Armed with a desire to make a difference in their community and motivated by lived experience, the Waller family contributed to the purchase of $125,200 in gynaecological equipment that is the future of minimally invasive procedures.

The Myosure and Novasure enable surgeons to perform a range of procedures for patients suffering from conditions of the endometrium, such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, and heavy bleeding.

As many as 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with uterine fibroids alone, and while not all require surgical treatment, a significant portion will suffer from additional complications which can be greatly improved through surgical intervention.

Mater Private Hospital Redland Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Micheal Mastry said the new surgical equipment reduced operating and recovery times. 

“What we can do with this equipment is really fantastic and we are experiencing great success and outcomes for our patients,” Dr Mastry said.

“We are able to address a range of problems through a minimally invasive day procedure that has led to a long-term reduction in the number of hysterectomies required.”

It’s a finding proved true for Mater Private Hospital Redland patient, Karen Clews, who underwent surgery with the new equipment in April to remove a uterine fibroid and treat persistent heavy bleeding causing the serious condition, anaemia.

“In all honesty, I was thinking a hysterectomy would be my only option with the symptoms that I was experiencing until Dr Mastry explained how he could perform surgery using the new equipment,” Ms Clews said.

“I was really surprised that this type of surgery was able to be performed close to home, but more so, how incredible my recovery and outcome has been.

“It took away the added stress of having to travel into the city and enabled me to be close to home and near my family.”

Ms Clews said she will be forever grateful to the Waller family for their generous donation of equipment to the Mater Private Hospital Redland.

“Not only has it helped my quality of life, but a lot of other women in our local area will benefit from this procedure and not have to go through extensive surgery,” Ms Clews said.

Representing the Waller family, Jonette Waller said it was a family legacy to contribute to their local community and one she will continue.

“We don’t do it for the recognition – we live in a world where we often take so much, when you have the opportunity to give back, it’s especially important to do so,” Ms Waller said.

“These are the values instilled by the Sisters of Mercy and a compounding reason our family supports Mater.”

Dr Mastry said gynaecological medicine had advanced significantly in recent years.

“This equipment allows Mater Private Hospital Redland to offer a service that is comparable to world-class cities,” he said.

“This equipment will change lives in the Redlands, enabling us to more easily and accurately remove endometrial polyps, which will increase the likelihood of detecting early endometrial cancer.”

Dr Mastry is a founding board member for the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation which promotes public awareness, funds research, and helps patients and their families with financial support when affected by ovarian cancer.

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