All aboard the surgical bus

Shannon Beynon Reporter from Northern Outlook

The Rangiora Health Hub will soon become a host site for the mobile surgical bus, offering a range of surgery from orthopaedic procedures to hernia repairs.

The surgical bus is a prupose-built 20 metre long, 42 tonne truck which contains a fully equipped operating theatre and provides a low risk elective surgery to 23 rural towns throughout New Zealand.

It has been operating since 2002 and has successfully completed mor than 21,000 operations. A wide range of surgeries have been performed including general surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedics, dental, plastics and endoscopy.

The Mobile Surgical Unit travels on a five-week loop of the country, stopping off for the day at 23 regular sites. The surgery the patients receive at each site is booked well in advance with the patients' GPs, specialists, and MHS staff liaising to ensure efficiency of service.

Running on an ongoing circuit of the country, MHS employs two aptly-named "steerologists" who between the two of them maintain the Bus' demanding punctuality and, upon arrival at each location, effectively prop up an entire operating theatre with their own hands.

The bus helps eliminate unnecessary travel for patients and allows them to be treated in their local community, saving them stress and cost.

The bust will be vising Rangiora in March for an open day so you can see how it fits an entire operating theatre into a bus.


Where: Rangiora Health Hub, Rangiora Hospital.

When: Tuesday March 14, 8am-3pm.