RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICERS' UNIT

Neurosurgery

The Department of Neurosurgery is based at Christchurch Hospital with adult patients in Ward 28 (beds being currently shared with Neurology patients) and also has access to the Paediatric Wards, Neonatal Unit, ICU etc.

There are now over 600 neurosurgical operations performed annually, of which less than 5% comprise acute trauma and the greater proportion are for conditions such as intracranial aneurysms (both clipping and endovascular coiling), intracranial and spinal tumours, spinal degenerative conditions, disc lesions, treatment of hydrocephalus and peripheral nerve surgery etc.

There are now over 1,000 inpatients per year and 2000 outpatients seen per year. There are three consultant neurosurgeons and three registrars, with one registrar being accredited by The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for an advanced vocational neurosurgical trainee (SET 2 to Set 6), one accredited for a commencing/basic neurosurgical trainee (SET1) registrar and the third is allocated to a rotating basic surgical registrar.

There are two house officers, one being shared with the Neurology Department. There is a high level of support and supervision from the consultants and registrars for the house officers. There are four full days elective surgery per week and three half day outpatient clinics per week.

There is a weekly teaching session/audit meeting held jointly with the Neurology Department and Neuroradiologists. There are fortnightly Neuropathology review sessions and other teaching sessions. There are regular weekly interdisciplinary meetings with the supporting Allied Health specialties for neurosurgery (Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech Language therapy, Social work etc.). Our unit is very well supported by a full range of other surgical and medical specialties and has ready access to modern imaging (including CT, MRI, U/S, DSA), Christchurch Hospital has a well-established PACS system for accessing all imaging. We also are well supported by and work closely with the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering and together produce surgical equipment and implants - specifically custom-built cranial prostheses/plates.

The Neurosurgical Service at Christchurch Hospital serves the greater proportion of the 1 million population of the South Island and accepts acute admissions through the Emergency Department, referrals from general practitioners and inpatient referrals from other specialties within Christchurch Hospital and also referrals from other outlying hospitals within the South Island and at times from further afield.

For more information please contact

Mr M R MacFarlane, Clinical Director, telephone (64 3) 364 1217
email: martin.macfarlane@cdhb.govt.nz