NSW-first heart therapy at Wollongong Private Hospital

Wollongong Private Hospital has become the first centre in New South Wales to offer a ground-breaking treatment to restore normal heart rhythm.

Patients with persistent and long-standing atrial fibrillation (AF) previously had to travel interstate for Convergent Hybrid Therapy.

The advanced procedure combines cardiac surgery and catheter-based treatment to treat AF, a serious condition affecting around two percent of Australians which increases the risk of stroke and heart failure.

"This is a new procedure aiming to tackle a complex issue and offer new hope for patients with complex atrial fibrillation," Dr Mohammad Azari said.

The cardiothoracic surgeon is delivering the dual-phase procedure alongside cardiologist Dr Jayesh Gohil at Wollongong Private Hospital, where the first two cases were successfully completed in April 2025.

Dr Gohil said the treatment was ideal for chronic AF patients who have had an unsuccessful ablation – a procedure that blocks faulty hearty signals by burning the affected tissue.

"We are excited that to be the first site in NSW to offer the procedure and we encourage patients with longstanding AF to speak with their GP or cardiac electrophysiologist about whether a referral for this treatment is right for them," he said.

"The introduction of this procedure is another feather in the cap for Wollongong Private Hospital's heart service."

The Ramsay Health Care facility has operated on more than 1,200 heart patients since launching its cardiac surgery program in September 2021.

It now delivers comprehensive cardiac care for both public and private patients, including coronary interventions, valve procedures, aortic surgeries, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and electrophysiology services.

The cardiothoracic surgical unit also specialises in minimally invasive thoracic procedures including lung cancer operations.

Wollongong Private Hospital's Acting CEO, Caroline Wilson, said she was delighted to offer local patients the benefits of Convergent Hybrid Therapy.

"It means patients can now access this world-class treatment close to home," she said.

"We're always looking for way to innovate and improve care for our community."

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