Aspen Medical's state-of-the-art Mobile Surgical Unit (MSU) has taken pride of place at Moruya District Hospital on the South Coast of NSW whilst the hospital's own theatre is being refurbished over the coming weeks.

Know as Lorna, the MSU has been used by Aspen Medical in the Solomon Islands and most recently at Gladstone Hospital in Queensland. 

The 13-metre long facility includes a fully-functional operating table; air conditioning; theatre lights; pre-op and post-op patient areas and change rooms.

The MSU has a surgical timer/ clock; an x-ray viewing panel; a surgical scrub bay; clinical basins; a washer disinfector; secure drug storage; a fluid and blanket warmer. It also has a back-up generator.

General Manager of Eurobodalla Health Service, Lisa Kennedy, said the installation of the MSU at Moruya Hospital would ensure patients would not be inconvenienced by work at the hospital’s theatre.

“The improvement work, which is expected to take about six weeks, includes upgrading the theatre’s air conditioning, new lights and service pendants,” Ms Kennedy said.

“It means we can continue as normal with both elective and emergency surgery in the Eurobodalla. Patients follow the normal clinical path- way of the Moruya District Hospital and are transferred to the MSU on normal trolleys via a hydraulic lift.

“They are admitted into the pre-op area before proceeding to the theatre and later to the recovery area. It is a seamless process and enhances patient safety and well-being.”