Robotic surgery celebrates
10-year anniversary
Robotic surgery was merely
a concept in Queensland
just over a decade ago.
A team at Greenslopes Private Hospital
became the first in the state to use the
technology in December 2008 when they
performed a robotic prostatectomy.
Since then it has continued to grow and
is now used in other specialties including
gynaecology and general surgery.
December 2018 marks the 10-year
anniversary of the use of robotic surgery at
Greenslopes Private Hospital.
Urologist A/Prof Peter Heathcote said it
had been a game-changer for his specialty.
4 | GPH News – November 2018
“In my practice I don’t do open surgery
prostatectomies anymore – I only do
robotics,” he said.
A/Prof Heathcote said he estimated
between 75 and 80 per cent of all
urological surgeries were now performed
using robotics.
“The patients have voted with their feet
there’s no doubt about that. The use of
robotic surgery affords a much more rapid
recovery and much less pain,” he said.
Robotic surgeries are minimally invasive
and involve the use of mechanical arms
operated by a surgeon.
Urologist Dr Roger Watson said part of the
success of the technological procedures at
Greenslopes Private Hospital was due to
the hard work not only of the surgeons, but
other doctors, nurses and medical staff.
“It has been a great example of combining
state-of-the-art technology, high level
training, a body of highly-skilled clinicians,
added with a focused management team
to deliver a world-class program with
world-class outcomes,” he said.
Urologist Dr Peter Swindle said he, Dr
Heathcote, Dr Watson, Dr Glen Wood
and Dr Greg Malone were part of the
original team, but the number of specialists
performing the surgeries at Greenslopes
Private Hospital had since increased to
more than 20.
“We are now one of the busiest surgery
centres in Australia,” he said.
2018
2008
Then and now: original robotic surgery team members Dr Greg Malone, nurse Georgina Haselwood,
Dr Glen Wood, nurse Jane Nielsen, Dr Roger Watson, A/Prof Peter Heathcote, Dr Peter Swindle.