Today I had the great pleasure of congratulating the record-breaking heart surgery team at the Royal Hobart Hospital, which has performed 1000 consecutive Coronary Artery Bypass Surgeries without adverse outcome.
According to an extensive literature search, this is the first time that a surgical unit anywhere in the world has achieved zero 30-day or in-hospital mortality for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in 1000 consecutive cases.
The result includes emergency and second or third-time cases.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery is the most commonly performed major operation in the world – but still has significant risks for patients.
It is a truly remarkable feat by the team at the Royal Hobart Hospital to have successfully completed 1000 consecutive surgeries since 2008.
It is a testament to the skill, experience and dedication of the entire team throughout this period.
In particular I would like to recognise two surgeons – Mr Mark Murton and Mr Ashutosh Hardikar – who have been delivering these services for the majority of that period.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery cases are particularly important in Tasmania.
Tasmanian has a higher rate of coronary artery disease than any other state due to higher rates of obesity, smoking and other risk factors and the group of patients that have been operated on have been a higher risk group than those in other institutions, either in Australia or overseas.
We can all be tremendously proud of the Tasmanian cardiothoracic team, whose efforts have shown that world-standard quality health care can be delivered right here in Tasmania.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is fixing the health system so that all Tasmanians have access to quality and safe health services like the RHH surgical team.
This is a great example of what we are hoping to achieve in more areas - a specialised service performed with world-class expertise, accessible to all Tasmanians.
We know that there are many skilled medical practitioners across our health system and it is our role as a Government to ensure that Tasmanians have access to the treatment they provide, wherever they live around the state.
Mr Murton said that the achievement has been made possible by the experience and expertise developed over the last 23 years and 9000 cases of heart surgery since the unit was opened in 1991.
"We have a very small and loyal team who pride themselves on the high standards we have achieved and without whom this would not have been possible," Mr Murton said.
"As well as Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery we also perform about 150 lung operations per year and are involved in pacemaker therapy and a lot of other less common but still major procedures."
"Our survival figures for these procedures are equally good on an Australian and international comparison," Mr Murton said.