Day Surgery

Mobile Health provides low risk elective day surgery in rural communities that do not have local access to a full operating theatre. Elective day surgery is scheduled in advance, where the patient will be able to return home the same day following the procedure.

Patient Eligibility and Referral Process

Patients who may require surgery will first be referred by their GP (or primary care provider) to their local District Health Board (DHB) to be assessed by a specialist. They will determine if a patient requires surgery, how much they will benefit from treatment compared to other people, and given available resources, if surgery can be provided within 4 months. If a patient is ‘accepted’ then they will be added to the DHB waiting list.

If the patient lives in a region where the surgical bus visits, depending on the schedule, specialty and procedure required, they may be offered the opportunity to have their procedure on the surgical unit.

Cost for Patients

The service is part of the public health system and is available to eligible patients at no cost.

Core funding for mobile surgical unit is provided by the Ministry of Health, and the cost of local staff and support services are met by local District Health Boards.

 Common Day Surgery Procedures

The service completes ‘low risk’ procedures, which are relatively simple procedures in each speciality.

Click on the categories below to view common procedures: