General Surgery & Trauma

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The general surgery service at Waikato Hospital provides a comprehensive service to the Midland region.

Examples of tertiary services include: liver resection complex laparoscopic surgery surgery for conditions of the large bowel advanced endocrine surgery mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery are performed as combined cases in conjunction with plastic surgery. There are 16 operating theatre sessions (including up to four sessions off-site), 6.5 endoscopy sessions (including ERCP) and 8.5 clinics per week.

General surgery has a regional model of care, focusing on Waikato and Thames with visiting services provided to Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and Tokoroa.

The General Surgery department has a strong focus on teaching and includes weekly meetings, which cover radiology, breast multi-disciplinary discussion, histopathology audit and morbidity and mortality meetings. There are also weekly formal registrar presentations, alongside practical teaching.

Our trauma surgeon leads the Trauma Service at Waikato and the service involves a daily round of trauma patients, providing management advice, ensuring overall coordination of care, assisting in discharge planning, collecting information on the injured patients and educating health personnel. The registrar is with the General Surgery service, is involved with some operating and participates in the acute general surgical out-of-hours roster.

Who we are:

General surgery/trauma has consultants who are recognised leaders in the following specialties:

• Breast/endocrine
• Hepatobiliary/pancreatic/UGI
• colorectal
• Trauma.
  

The team also has:

• One breast and endocrine fellow
• One colorectal fellow
• One trauma fellow
• Seven registrars (plus two relievers)
• 17 house officers (including nine relievers)
• Trainee interns and students.
  
  

Papers published

• Christey GR.
  Trauma care in New Zealand: it's time to move ahead.
  World J Surg. 2008 Aug;32(8):1618-21.