Implant cuts need for Parkinson's medication

An innovative new treatment option for people with Parkinson's disease is now available in the New South Wales' Illawarra region.

Wollongong Private Hospital has introduced deep brain stimulation (DBS), which was previously not available in areas between Sydney and Melbourne.

It involves implanting small electrodes in the brain which are controlled by a pacemaker-like device inserted in the chest.

The electrical impulses help to manage movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia and tremor.

"Having been trained in large metropolitan hospitals, I am thrilled to be able to offer this treatment locally," said neurosurgeon Dr Craig Vonhoff, who completed the first DBS implantation at Wollongong Private Hospital along with neurologist Dr Derrick Soh.

"Bringing this service to the Illawarra and wider region provides local residents with debilitating health conditions an opportunity to seek surgery and ongoing treatment close to home," Dr Vonhoff added.

The hospital's first DBS recipient was 63-year-old Sandra McDonald, who lives on New South Wales' south coast.

"After 10 years of taking medication for Parkinson's, the drugs were becoming ineffective and causing serious side-effects," she said.

"We live near Bermagui so it's an easy four-hour drive to Wollongong. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the big-city crazy traffic. The hospital in Wollongong is centrally located close to shops and accommodation."

Dr Soh said it was common for Parkinson's medications to become less effective over time as it is a progressive disease, and for side-effects to increase.

"DBS allows for a reduced reliance on those medications and an associated reduction in medication-related side-effects," he said.

"DBS can also be adapted as the disease progresses and becomes more severe."

Wollongong Private's Acting CEO, Malcolm Passmore, said the hospital's operator Ramsay Health Care was committed to offering people in regional areas access to leading private healthcare options closer to home.

"We're pleased to offer this new procedure to people in Illawarra and surrounding regions," he said.

"Wollongong Private Hospital is committed to bringing leading healthcare options to the region. Patients do not need to travel to capital cities to access excellent care or to be treated by leading specialists."

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