Hospital celebrates 1000th heart bypass

Davistown resident Mr Jim Dowling is the 1000th patient to undergo heart bypass surgery at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital.

The 75-year-old celebrated his recovery with surgeons, medical specialists, hospital staff and guests at a function at the hospital on May 11.

Mr Dowling, his cardiac surgeon Dr John Brereton, cardiologist Dr Tony Kull and hospital CEO Mr Steve Atkins were all present on the day.

Other guests included the Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews, Point Clare ambulance officers and hospital staff.

Mr Dowling praised the level of care he received since he was told by heart surgeon Dr John Brereton that he needed the life-saving operation.

Mr Dowling said for him the decision to go ahead with the operation was easy.

"The fact that the surgical team here had performed so many open heart operations gave me a lot of confidence," Mr Dowling said.

"Patients like me don't have to travel outside the Central Coast for the highest level of treatment and care.

"We don't need the added stress of having to cope with Sydney."

Cardiologist Dr Tony Kull explained that Mr Dowling had no symptoms of heart disease.

However he had a positive result following a routine stress test.

An angiogram was performed and four blockages were identified.

Heart surgeon Dr John Brereton, who performed the operation, said Mr Dowling had recovered well, but needed to be careful of his diet and to maintain regular exercise.

"Bypass surgery has been successfully performed at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital for almost nine years by surgeons from Royal North Shore and Westmead Hospitals in Sydney," Dr Brereton said.

Hospital CEO Mr Steve Atkins paid tribute to the staff, cardiologists and surgeons who established and maintain the hospitals position as one of the leading heart care facilities in NSW.

"In the past year we've also reached other milestones: 8882 cardiac catheterizations, an increase of 35 per cent in vascular angioplasty procedures, and an increase in coronary step down beds from 12 to 16 beds."

Mr Atkins said the hospital was rated as the best private hospital nationally by HCF Australia in 2002 and has been in the top five private hospitals for the three consecutive years," Mr Atkins said.

He said Brisbane Water Private Hospital was the only hospital on the Central Coast able to provide the entire range of cardiac services.

This is backed up by a 24-hour on-call service for people requiring urgent cardiac assessment.

The available specialists include cardiologists, interventional radiologists, cardio-vascular surgeons and highly-trained nursing staff with cardiac and critical care experience.

In keeping with the high level of surgery, the six-bed intensive care unit is supported with full-time intensive care staff specialists.

The hospital is also supported by five Central Coast cardiologists, five cardiothoracic surgeons from Royal North Shore and Westmead Hospitals and a panel of Sydney's leading cardiac anaesthetists and perfusionists.

Press release, May 10 Brisbane Waters Private Hospital