Sandringham third in state for eye surgeries

While the Eye Clinic at Sandringham has only been in operation for three years, the hospital is now third only to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Casey Hospital in the volume of eye surgeries undertaken each week across Victoria.

The team at the Eye Clinic, led by Alfred Health Head of Ophthalmology Associate Professor Tony Hall, has also seen a substantial surge in the number of referrals from GPs and optometrists, which Professor Hall attributes to the high level of care patients receive at the hospital.

Last year, Sandringham Hospital’s Eye Clinic performed 1680 cataract surgeries for local patients – improving the eye sight of an additional 300 people on the prior year’s effort.

“The reason this model works so well is because it is a dedicated elective surgery centre,” Professor Hall said. 

“Our staff do a really good job and our waiting list is now less than three months compared with the 12-month wait required in many other surgical centres across Melbourne.”

However, Professor Hall said the hospital would be able to offer an even greater level of care if it had a dedicated day surgery centre, which is the focus of a current community fundraising appeal.

“There is no other public ophthalmology service in this area so if people need eye surgery, and they want to stay local, this is really the only option they have,” he said.

“With the addition of a dedicated day surgery centre, we would become even more efficient – and offer an easier and friendlier environment for our patients.”

Sandringham Hospital’s planned $2.5m Day Procedure Centre will help manage the 50 per cent increase in same-day procedures since the surgical program expanded in 2014. To donate to this very worthy cause, visit the Sandringham Hospital Appeal website at www.sandringhamhospitalappeal.org.au 

The centre will cater for patients undergoing a range of procedures such as orthopaedic, general, ophthalmology and gynaecology surgery, and will be built next to the existing operating theatres at Sandringham Hospital.