News

North Shore Private Hospital helps ease burden on public sector during COVID-19

Nov 15, 2021

North Shore Private Hospital has supported NSW Health’s COVID-19 response by facilitating surgical care to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) public patients during Sydney’s recent lockdown.

Teams from North Shore Private Hospital cared for approximately 150 public patients from RPA from July to September.

These cases were predominantly people requiring treatment for bone cancer, as well as some patients who experienced orthopaedic trauma and women who gave birth via caesarean sections.

North Shore Private Hospital allocated sessions in its operating theatres to allow these public patients to undergo surgery, with some of those people requiring intensive care post-operatively.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Richard Boyle said: “The sarcoma unit from RPAH has once again been able to continue providing urgent and necessary surgical care to our patients, thanks to the collaborative care agreement between NSP [North Shore Private] and SLHD [Sydney Local Health District].”

“Many patients from right across the state have benefitted during this time, and it is thanks to the efforts of the management and staff across both campuses," Dr Boyle said.

North Shore Private Hospital CEO Richard Ryan said several of the sarcoma (bone cancer) cases were complex and praised his staff and doctors for the care and support provided to these patients.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have been consistently focused on caring for our community, while implementing strategies to keep our people safe at all times,” Mr Ryan said.

“We are proud to have played a significant role in relieving some of the pressure from our colleagues in the public sector. The past year and a half has certainly shown the value of having robust private and public health systems that work cohesively together.”