Surgery On The Unit
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
Surgical Specialties
We provide a wide range of surgical specialties including:
- General surgery
- Gynaecology
- Orthopaedics
- Endoscopy
- Dental Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
Patient Selection Criteria
The mobile surgical unit will only accept patients who meet the following patient selection criteria:
- ‘primarily normal healthy’ (ASA I)
- ‘mild systemic disease’ (ASA II)
- Aged 3 years and above
- Have a BMI <35


Common Day Surgery Procedures
The service completes ‘low risk’ procedures, which are relatively simple procedures in each
Click on the categories below to view common procedures:
General Surgery
- Inguinal Hernia (Open & Lap)
- Umbilical Hernia
- Epigastric Hernia
Haemorrhoids
Dental
Paediatric dentalWisdoms (If meet wait list criteria)
Gynaecology
- Dilatation and curettage
- Diagnostic Laparoscopy
- Hysteroscopy
- Laparoscopic sterilisation
- Ablation
- Polypectomies
- Insertion of Mirenas under GA
Plastic Surgery
- Dupuytrens Repair
- Lipoma Excision
- Naevus Excision
- Revision Scars
- Breast Reconstruction
Orthopaedics
- Carpal tunnel under GA
Dupuytrens contractures- Minor Amputations (Fingers/Toes)
- Arthroscopy
- Trigger Finger
- Removal K Wires
- Ganglion

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