The San provides advanced cancer care to public patients on the Central Coast

The San is proud to collaborate with the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) to provide public patients with access to advanced robotic-assisted surgery for prostate and kidney cancers.

Minimally invasive robotic surgery is recognised as best practice for many prostate and kidney cancer procedures, enabling surgeons to perform complex operations with reduced blood loss, fewer post-operative complications, and faster recovery times. For some public hospitals without access to robotic technology, partnerships with private hospitals are essential to ensure patients can receive the same high standard of care without the need for more invasive open surgery.

Through this collaboration, Central Coast patients can undergo robotic-assisted cancer surgery at the San, while remaining under the care of their public health team. Importantly, the partnership also supports the training of the next generation of surgeons, with registrars gaining hands-on experience under close supervision.

In January, A/Professor Mark Louie-Johnsun, Dr Francis Ting and Dr Eddie Latif, working alongside their registrars, successfully treated six Central Coast patients with prostate and kidney cancer using robotic-assisted surgery at the San. All patients were able to be discharged home to the Central Coast within 48 hours of their major surgery.

This initiative reflects the San’s investment in the future surgical workforce, and ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to our community and beyond.