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Patients in the Midwest of WA can now access robotic-assisted joint replacement procedures closer to home, with the introduction of robotic-assisted technology at St John of God Geraldton Hospital.
Patients will no longer need to travel the 400 kilometres to Perth to have the same operation, with the same implants, using the same techniques.
St John of God Geraldton Hospital Chief Executive Officer Phillip Balmer said combining advanced technology with local care reflects a strong commitment to patient-centred care.
“Our focus is on providing safe, high-quality care close to home, so patients in the Mid West have access to specialist services within their local community,” Mr Balmer said.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Lorcan McGonagle has begun using the Cori robotic system for hip and knee procedures, while colleague and fellow orthopaedic surgeon Dr Aman Singh has commenced using the ROSA Knee System for knee surgery.
Dr McGonagle said the introduction of these specialised surgical robots in Geraldton was an exciting addition to the hospital’s services.
“The advantages of having this done in Geraldton is that we’re using modern techniques with the robotic assisted knee replacement so patients can have surgery done locally, close to home, close to their friends and family which is very important for post operative support,” he said.
Dr Singh said the milestone reflects a strong commitment to regional health care.
“We are pleased to have introduced robotic-assisted surgery in the Mid West, and we are committed to ensuring that patients in regional centres like Geraldton do not miss out on access to this technology,” he said.
Mr Balmer said the hospital’s focus continued to be the patient, their family and their needs.
“We’re really proud of the fact we have caregivers and specialists who are committed to meeting their needs,” he said.
There were nearly 140,000 knee and hip replacements performed across Australia in 2024.
