A new outpatient hysteroscopy service at Auckland’s North Shore Hospital will help women get a faster diagnosis, says Health Minister Simeon Brown.
Brown said the service would combine the first specialist assessment and a diagnostic procedure into a single visit.
“This is a practical, patient-focused pathway that means women can get the answers they need sooner, without the stress and delays of multiple appointments or hospital admission.”
A hysteroscopy is a procedure used to look inside the womb and its lining.
A sample is generally taken as part of a diagnostic hysteroscopy to look for abnormalities.
Previously, women needing a hysteroscopy would attend an initial specialist appointment and then wait weeks to undergo the procedure in theatre under general anaesthetic, Brown said, adding the new approach removed that delay for suitable patients.
“Now, women needing an uncomplicated hysteroscopy procedure can choose to have both the specialist assessment and the procedure in a single outpatient appointment.
“That means fewer hospital visits, less time off work or away from family, and a much more streamlined experience.”
Women with a high suspicion of cancer would see the diagnostic timeline reduced by two to six weeks compared to the previous system.
Brown said that time could make all the difference.
North Shore Hospital expected to deliver around 60 outpatient hysteroscopy clinics over the next 12 months, with approximately 240 procedures.
“Every outpatient procedure frees up valuable theatre space and clinical teams for patients who require more complex surgery. That’s better for patients, and better for the whole system,” Brown said.
A significant proportion of uncomplicated hysteroscopies that would have otherwise been performed in theatre under anaesthesia can now be done safely as outpatient procedures due to the new service, he added.
“This is part of a regional effort to improve the quality, timeliness, and experience of care for women undergoing investigation for gynaecological cancers.
“It will also play an important role in meeting our faster cancer treatment target by speeding up diagnosis and helping women start treatment sooner.”
The new service followed similar successful models already operating in Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Waikato.
