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Orange,NSW – Western Local Health District (LHD) has reversed its decision to halt robotic surgery training at Orange Hospital,a move welcomed by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) NSW and addressing concerns raised by senior doctors over capacity issues impacting surgical postponements.
The reversal follows meetings between doctors and NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, and ensures continued training for surgeons in advanced robotic procedures. The AMA NSW branch, represented by President Kathryn Austin, lauded the LHD’s change of course.
“We think it’s fantastic that more modern services like robotic surgery can be delivered by those who are skilled in that workforce โฆ to give the patients the care closer to home and certainly in their local area,” Dr. Austin stated.Robotic surgery offers potential benefits including smaller incisions, reduced pain, and faster recovery times for patients.
A new 10-year plan is being developed for Orange Hospital to ensure it can meet the future needs of the community. (ABC News: Shaun Kingma)
The decision to initially halt the training program had coincided with reports of surgery postponements at orange Health Service, a 148-bed facility serving a large regional population. Senior doctors had previously flagged the hospital’s capacity as a contributing factor to these delays, as reported on May 29, 2024.
Dr. Austin emphasized the importance of ongoing investment in both the medical workforce and the infrastructure supporting them. “It’s very vital that we continue to make sure that NSW Health does everything to support the frontline doctors and nurses of our workforce, and investments in the workforce and the infrastructure in which they work needs to be a priority,” she said. “Hopefully small changes like this will show that that’s what they are doing.”
LHD chief Executive Scott Spittal confirmed the development of a new 10-year clinical services plan for Orange Hospital. this plan will assess the need for additional beds and evaluate the broader health precinct to determine future requirements, aiming to proactively address capacity concerns and ensure sustainable healthcare delivery for the Orange region and surrounding communities.
The Orange region has a population of approximately 53,000, and the hospital serves a wider catchment area including smaller towns and rural communities. The 10-year plan will be