The heart surgeries we perform include:

Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG): This surgery involves the use of blood vessels to bypass blockages in the coronary arteries.

Heart valve surgery: There are four valves in the heart. A surgeon may be able to repair a diseased valve or may have to replace it, using either a tissue valve (made from the heart tissue of a pig or cow) or a mechanical valve.  

Atrial and ventricular septal defects: An atrial septal defect is an opening in the wall of the heart which divides the upper chambers of the heart. A ventricular septal defect is an opening in the wall of the heart between the lower chambers of the heart. These defects may be closed using stitches or a synthetic patch.

Aneurysms: A weakness in the heart muscle from a heart attack may cause a bulge. This is corrected by reinforcing or patching the affected area.

Our cardiothoracic surgery team includes intensive care specialists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiothoracic anaesthetists, specialised nurses and allied health.

We work in partnership with the broader Prince of Wales Hospital cardiac services which include the cardiology ward and coronary care unit. We also are closely integrated with the Intensive Care Unit and Eastern Heart Clinic.

You will need a referral from your local general practitioner (GP) and a surgeon to use our services. If you need surgery, you will be placed on a waiting list after being seen by your cardiothoracic surgeon.

You will receive an email or letter from our Admissions Department with details on what type of surgery you need, the date and when to telephone the hospital. If there are any changes to your surgery date, the hospital will contact you.

The letter may ask you to attend a pre-admission clinic. At pre-admission clinic you may be seen by either a nurse, anaesthetist or the surgical team who may take tests, advise you on how to prepare for your surgery or discuss your care when you leave hospital. 

If your surgery is planned and is in the public hospital system, you will be placed on a waiting list. Your surgeon will decide how serious your condition is and how quickly you will need to have your surgery. Sometimes it is necessary to delay surgery that has been booked to make way for life-threatening cases which are admitted through our emergency department.

If you have questions about waiting times you can call the Surgery Access Line.

If you are having cardiothoracic surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital we like to make sure there is a bed available in our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. Sometimes you may come into hospital for your surgery and an emergency occurs and there is no longer an intensive care bed available. Should this happen we will need to rebook your surgery.

If you are well enough and your surgeon recommends it, you will be asked to attend the pre-admission clinic to prepare for your surgery. This is done the week or even the day before your surgery. 

There are a number of tests that need to be completed prior to your surgery, and these need to be organised by your local general practitioner (GP) and brought with you to the pre-admission clinic. These include a chest X-ray, and blood tests. Please wait until we have talked to you before having these done.

Before your cardiothoracic surgery it is important to be as fit as you can be. If you have diabetes we encourage you to see your GP and Endocrinologist to ensure your blood sugar levels are stable at the time of your surgery.

It is important to stop smoking before having surgery. Smoking drastically increases the risk of complications. Your GP can help you with this. Your local chemist can help you with nicotine replacement therapy or you can call the national Quit line on 131 848. You can also get support from the Smoking Clinic in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital on phone number 9382 4641.

Before you have surgery it is important to organise for a responsible adult to take you home from hospital and to stay with you for two weeks after you return home. You will need to rest, so plan and arrange leave from work and for help with cooking, shopping, laundry and cleaning.

For more information on what to expect you can read these brochures

• Cardiac surgery information booklet
• Lung surgery information booklet

Or watch this video - Heart Surgery at POWH

You will need to bring to hospital:

• Your referral from your GP and your referral from your Surgeon
• Medicare card
• Health care card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Previous X-rays, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results
• Your regular medicines and a list of all that you are currently taking (or the boxes), including those you take without a prescription such as herbal supplements or vitamins
• Glasses, hearing aid, walking frame.
• For an overnight stay please bring: your sleepwear, dressing gown, slippers, personal hygiene items (e.g. shampoo, shaver, toothbrush and paste) and something to read or an iPad or tablet with headphones.

Please do not bring:

Your handbag, wallet, purse, or large amounts of cash. Valuables including jewellery and watches.

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

Our team includes:

Medical doctors 

Professor Ernest Somerville, Dr Hanka Laue-Gizzi, Dr Christian Zentner and Dr Penelope Gordon are our medical specialists.  We also have as specialist doctors in training. Our doctors will assess, treat and help you manage your condition.

Clinical Nurse Consultant

Ms Bobbi-Jo Byrnes provides education and counselling and is the person you can speak to if your have any questions or concerns between appointments.

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Co-ordinator 

Mrs Jenine Murray

Clinical Trials and Research Co-ordinator 

Ms Susanne Chun

Inpatient VEEG and Outpatient AEEG Coordinator

Mrs Roxanne Fielding

Secretary

Ms Angelique Boyadgis will help you make appointments and provide information about what happens at the clinic. She will also answer calls from patients who need to contact us between appointments.

Our service also refers to: 

Dr Erica Jacobson who is a neurosurgeon

Dr Adith Mohan, a neuropsychiatrist

Dr Teresa Lee, a neuropsychologist.

Your GP, another specialist doctor or the Emergency Department doctor will decide if you need to use our services.  If they think you do, they will send a referral to one of our specialist doctors explaining your medical history, relevant test results and what medicines you are taking.

Once we have your referral we will send you your appointment letter in the post.  If you provide your mobile phone number you will receive an SMS reminder 2 days before your appointment.  Please let the clinic know if you do not want to receive an SMS reminder.

The clinic runs on Mondays and Tuesday afternoons.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone the clinic on 9382 3805. Please leave a voicemail if the call is not answered. 

Waiting times

You may need to wait up to several months to be seen in the clinic. If your GP thinks you need an urgent appointment they need to telephone the clinic to discuss your needs.

How often do I need to attend the clinic?

How often you need to attend will depend on your progress. If your condition is stable you will need to visit the clinic every 6-12 months.

On the day of your first appointment please bring:

• Your referral letter from your GP
• Your Medicare card
• MRI scans
• A list of your medicines or bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines
• Any medical records or reports that you have. This may save us and you considerable time and even reduce the number of visits necessary
• You are welcome to bring a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you.
• If this is your first visit, it is helpful to bring someone with you who has seen one of your attacks

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research, including clinical trials or for a student to be present at your appointment. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Our team includes:

Medical doctors 

Professor Ernest Somerville, Dr Hanka Laue-Gizzi, Dr Christian Zentner and Dr Penelope Gordon are our medical specialists.  We also have as specialist doctors in training. Our doctors will assess, treat and help you manage your condition.

Clinical Nurse Consultant

Ms Bobbi-Jo Byrnes provides education and counselling and is the person you can speak to if your have any questions or concerns between appointments.

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Co-ordinator 

Mrs Jenine Murray

Clinical Trials and Research Co-ordinator 

Ms Susanne Chun

Inpatient VEEG and Outpatient AEEG Coordinator

Mrs Roxanne Fielding

Secretary

Ms Angelique Boyadgis will help you make appointments and provide information about what happens at the clinic. She will also answer calls from patients who need to contact us between appointments.

Our service also refers to: 

Dr Erica Jacobson who is a neurosurgeon

Dr Adith Mohan, a neuropsychiatrist

Dr Teresa Lee, a neuropsychologist.

Your GP, another specialist doctor or the Emergency Department doctor will decide if you need to use our services.  If they think you do, they will send a referral to one of our specialist doctors explaining your medical history, relevant test results and what medicines you are taking.

Once we have your referral we will send you your appointment letter in the post.  If you provide your mobile phone number you will receive an SMS reminder 2 days before your appointment.  Please let the clinic know if you do not want to receive an SMS reminder.

The clinic runs on Mondays and Tuesday afternoons.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone the clinic on 9382 3805. Please leave a voicemail if the call is not answered. 

Waiting times

You may need to wait up to several months to be seen in the clinic. If your GP thinks you need an urgent appointment they need to telephone the clinic to discuss your needs.

How often do I need to attend the clinic?

How often you need to attend will depend on your progress. If your condition is stable you will need to visit the clinic every 6-12 months.

On the day of your first appointment please bring:

• Your referral letter from your GP
• Your Medicare card
• MRI scans
• A list of your medicines or bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines
• Any medical records or reports that you have. This may save us and you considerable time and even reduce the number of visits necessary
• You are welcome to bring a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you.
• If this is your first visit, it is helpful to bring someone with you who has seen one of your attacks

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research, including clinical trials or for a student to be present at your appointment. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Our qualified Occupational Therapists are part of multidisciplinary teams working across Prince of Wales Hospital.  

For those who have been under the care of our hospital, we provide outpatient appointments to continue care once you have gone home. These include:

• Falls Prevention
• Wheelchair & Seating Clinic (for Spinal Injuries)
• Balance Disorders
• Rehabilitation after stroke
• Amputees and pain. 

To refer your patient please call 9382 8299 or email: Danielle.Collins@health.nsw.gov.au  

If you need occupational therapy after leaving hospital you will be referred to our occupational therapy outpatient team.

Some services including our Balance Disorders and Falls Prevention Services will accept referrals from your local general practitioner (GP).

Once we receive your referral, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted as soon as an appointment is available.

If we think your needs are better met by another service (eg Community Health) we will help you make a referral.

If you have questions regarding this appointment or if you would like to reschedule or cancel this appointment please call the Occupational Therapy Department on 9382 8299.

Can I chose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

We are open from 8.00am - 4.30pm. We will try to find an appointment time that suits you.  However, outpatient appointment times may be limited.

How long will my appointment go for?

This can vary. It is best to check with your therapist when booking the appointment. Most appointments take about 1 hour, although our Seating Clinic appointments generally take about 2 hours.

You may need to wait up to 3 months for an outpatient appointment before you can see the Occupational Therapist (depending on the clinic). Please note this is not an emergency service.

If you are coming to an outpatient appointment we recommend bringing a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you to the first appointment.

Please wear comfortable, loose clothing as we may get you to do some exercises whilst you are with us. You may feel more comfortable in trousers rather than a skirt.

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for an Occupational Therapy student to be present at your session under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will have no impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Our qualified Occupational Therapists are part of multidisciplinary teams working across Prince of Wales Hospital.  

For those who have been under the care of our hospital, we provide outpatient appointments to continue care once you have gone home. These include:

• Falls Prevention
• Wheelchair & Seating Clinic (for Spinal Injuries)
• Balance Disorders
• Rehabilitation after stroke
• Amputees and pain. 

To refer your patient please call 9382 8299 or email: Danielle.Collins@health.nsw.gov.au  

If you need occupational therapy after leaving hospital you will be referred to our occupational therapy outpatient team.

Some services including our Balance Disorders and Falls Prevention Services will accept referrals from your local general practitioner (GP).

Once we receive your referral, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted as soon as an appointment is available.

If we think your needs are better met by another service (eg Community Health) we will help you make a referral.

If you have questions regarding this appointment or if you would like to reschedule or cancel this appointment please call the Occupational Therapy Department on 9382 8299.

Can I chose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

We are open from 8.00am - 4.30pm. We will try to find an appointment time that suits you.  However, outpatient appointment times may be limited.

How long will my appointment go for?

This can vary. It is best to check with your therapist when booking the appointment. Most appointments take about 1 hour, although our Seating Clinic appointments generally take about 2 hours.

You may need to wait up to 3 months for an outpatient appointment before you can see the Occupational Therapist (depending on the clinic). Please note this is not an emergency service.

If you are coming to an outpatient appointment we recommend bringing a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you to the first appointment.

Please wear comfortable, loose clothing as we may get you to do some exercises whilst you are with us. You may feel more comfortable in trousers rather than a skirt.

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for an Occupational Therapy student to be present at your session under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will have no impact in any way on the services we will provide.