From a new hospital to a new operating theatre and an Aussie first – there’s not a dull moment in Australian hospitals.
A new $3.5 million state-of-the-art operating theatre has opened at The Alfred – adding surgical capacity to the hospital’s dedicated planned surgery centre.
The Victorian government-funded theatre is part of a plan to add four additional Rapid Access Hubs across the state to support up to 6000 additional planned surgeries annually.
Alfred Health program director of surgical services Professor Wendy Brown said the new theatre would be a great boost for Victorians with planned surgery needs.
“Surgeries are often limited by infrastructure and having another theatre will enable us to treat more people,” she said.
“This particular theatre is designed with surgical efficiency in mind to help as many people as effectively as possible, every day, and with the best available technology.
“It’s also beneficial for enabling the next generation of surgeons to access the technologies that they will be using in the future.”
First opened in 2007, The Alfred Centre was built as a first-of-its-kind one-stop shop for Victorians with planned surgery needs.
“The Alfred was the first in Victoria to quarantine planned surgery from emergency and trauma activity, and it has proven to be a model that has served our community well,” said Professor Brown.
“The centre has really transformed our ability to help our patients have more certainty around their planned surgery needs.
“This new theatre is a part of the next phase of ensuring that we continue to provide timely access to care and offer the best possible experience for our patients.”
New arrival an Australian first
The Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney welcomed an extra special arrival 10 days before Christmas – the first baby to be born in Australia from a transplanted uterus.
Baby Henry Bryant made his arrival by caesarean section, weighing a healthy 2.9kg, with Dr Antonia Shand, Dr Sarah Lyons and midwives from the hospital’s Maternal Fetal Medicine at the helm of mum Kristy Bryant’s pregnancy and birth care.
Associate Professor Rebecca Deans from The Royal and UNSW Sydney and Swedish surgeon Professor Mats Brännström performed the original uterine transplant and continued to support the family through to birth.
“He arrived with a healthy cry and totally oblivious to the fact he’s entered the history books,” said Associate Professor Deans.
Henry’s mother, Kirsty Bryant, 30, was the first woman in Australia to undergo a uterus transplant as part of a ground-breaking research trial funded by donations through the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation.
The trial is led by Associate Professor Deans and other researchers from UNSW Sydney and The Royal Hospital for Women.
“This trial is the culmination of 25 years of collaborative research and persistence on a global scale, so to be able to see a baby born here in Australia is incredible,” said Associate Professor Deans.
“This is certainly a career highlight for me and to see this medical breakthrough creating a new life is quite extraordinary. It’s been an emotional day for everybody who has worked so hard towards this end goal.”
On 10 January 2023 Kirsty and her mother Michelle, 53, underwent extensive surgery that saw Michelle’s uterus transplanted into Kirsty so she could carry another child. Following fertility treatment, Ms Bryant fell pregnant just three months later.
“It’s been a whirlwind year and to have Henry here safely is beyond anything I thought possible,” said Ms Bryant.
“I’m so grateful to all the medical team who helped get us here and for being given the opportunity to be a part of this research trial. It’s allowed me to give birth to another baby, which is something I never thought I would do again,” she said.
Professor Brännström, who performed the world’s first successful uterus transplantation in Sweden which led to a live birth, returned to Australia for Henry’s birth.
“This gives hope to other women with uterine factor infertility that they can carry a child of their own without the need for other options such as adoption and surrogacy,” he said.
Kirsty had an emergency hysterectomy in 2021 after suffering a major haemorrhage following the birth of her first child, Violet.
“After my hysterectomy I desperately wanted another child and I felt like there weren’t many options for somebody in my situation,” she said.
“To hold this baby in my arms is a dream come true.”
Candidates for a uterine transplant include those born without a uterus or those who have had their uterus surgically removed for reasons such as cancer or complications with childbirth.
Uterus transplants are different from other forms of organ transplant as they’re designed to be temporary and last up to five years, giving a woman enough time to have children, but minimising the long-term side effects of immunosuppression drugs that are required after any organ transplant.
The Royal Hospital for Women has approval to conduct six uterine transplant surgeries as part of the clinical trial which is expected to run over the next three years.
Since Kirsty’s surgery, two more women have undergone a uterus transplant at The Royal Hospital for women. One of these women is now pregnant.
Funds for the surgeries and research trial have been raised by The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation through generous philanthropic donors who support innovation and advancements in women’s health.
Milestone for New Toowoomba Hospital
Site preparation works for the new Toowoomba Hospital have been completed, bringing the $1.3 billion facility a step closer to reality.
Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott PSM said completion of the $20 million enabling works package was an important milestone.
“Since the announcement of funding in June last year, we hit the ground running to ensure we can commence major construction without delay and complete early enabling works, it’s quite monumental,” she said.
“The enabling works focused on the installation of services to the site, including power and water. The work also included construction of a new service road at the Baillie Henderson campus and stormwater retention basin.
“Our Baillie Henderson campus is rapidly evolving into a modern healthcare facility and, thanks to the new Toowoomba Hospital and the investment into regional and rural facilities, we are positioning ourselves to become a destination of choice for health service professionals.”
Major construction work commences on the new Toowoomba Hospital this year, with completion expected by 2027.
“This facility will introduce new capabilities and capacity in just a few years’ time, I expect it to be a model of what a contemporary hospital can be, one that is not only patient centred and focused on the wellbeing of the community and our staff but has an amenity and feel that sets a new standard for the industry,” said Ms Scott.
Exciting proposals pitched at the inaugural Aboriginal Youth Mental Health Pitch competition
A culturally safe space for Aboriginal children to develop strong mental health, a program to educate Aboriginal young people on oral healthcare and a parenting program for Aboriginal grandmothers reconnecting with their children have been awarded funding from Sydney Local Health District.
District and community services supporting Aboriginal youth mental health pitched proposals for their share of $50,000 in funding at the SLHD’s inaugural Aboriginal Youth Mental Health Pitch competition in December.
Andrew McDonald, director of Mental Health, said the pitch initiative stemmed from extensive consultation with Aboriginal young people, community organisations and health services about how the SLHD could better support mental health outcomes for Aboriginal young people.
“We know that historical and socio-economic factors continue to impact the Aboriginal community and that Aboriginal people have a unique understanding about what is needed from our services to provide culturally appropriate and safe support,” he said.
“This initiative is about finding ways for our services and the community to work together to improve mental health and wellbeing for Aboriginal young people, and we’re excited about how the projects we are funding can bridge the gap.”
The District’s Drug Health Service, Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services, Alexandria Park Community School, the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, and The Settlement at the University of Sydney were awarded funding for their proposals.
Gabrielle Close-Roberts, an Aboriginal liaison officer at Sydney Dental Hospital, will lead an initiative to educate and support young Aboriginal people in caring for their oral health in collaboration with community partner organisations.
“Oral health can have a significant impact on the overall health and wellbeing of our Aboriginal young people, including their mental health, starting from a young age and as an ongoing, contributing factor,” she said.
“The project embodies an innovative approach to oral health and cultural education, utilising yarning circles to empower Aboriginal youth, bridge knowledge gaps, and enhance their connection to holistic wellbeing.”
It recognises the links between oral health and broader health concerns like heart disease, diabetes and obesity and seeks to encourage meaningful conversations about the importance of maintaining good oral health to support overall wellbeing.
The project aims to reduce the incidence of dental disease and improve oral health outcomes, measured by dental health data before and after its implementation.
“Together, we will codesign an integrated oral health education and culturally safe program designed to empower Aboriginal youth to manage their wellbeing proactively,” said Ms Close-Roberts.
“The goal is to enhance health outcomes and reinforce cultural connections, promoting self-esteem, confidence, and a stronger connection to cultural traditions and the wisdom of Elders.”
Funding for the Alexandria Park Community School’s pitch will go towards a support initiative for its students, while The Settlement at the University of Sydney is working with the Inner Sydney High School to support its students. The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence initiative will provide a safe space for young people to gather socially and access wellbeing information and support.
Ricky Lyons, deputy director of the SLHD’s Aboriginal Health Unit, was among the judging panel for the pitch proposals.
“By working together in partnership with our local Aboriginal communities, we are combining Aboriginal knowledge and cultural practice with the expertise of our healthcare professionals to find better solutions to supporting our young people and improving mental health outcomes,” he said.