The Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Urology Service is based at Christchurch Hospital with an additional service at the Burwood Spinal Unit. The nine urologists that form the Urology Service offer urological expertise and treatment to adult and paediatric patients for the largest range of urological conditions of any service in New Zealand. As well as a busy uro-oncology and endo-urology service, we also offer neuro-urology at the Burwood Spinal Unit, paediatric urology, female and functional urology and reconstructive urology.
Urology focuses on the surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive organs. It incorporates both operative and non-operative treatments for urological problems of men, women and children. Urology includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, testes and more. If you need help to urinate or to reproduce, urologists are likely involved.
Urology also deals with some of the most sensitive parts of health, including sexual function, fertility, urinary continence and gender identity. For this reason, urologists are well-versed in having complex, quality of life conversations and delivering compassionate care.
Urology is a unique blend of clinical medicine and surgery that appeals to many in the medical profession. Urologists are able to counsel patients on lifestyle modifications for their bladder issues or kidney stones, perform cystoscopies and biopsies in clinic, or have the opportunity to perform long and complex surgeries. Cases are varied both procedurally and in complexity and use the latest technology. There is a subspecialty to suit everyone’s preference, from removing cancer to improving continence and everything in between.
As a group of consultants, we make a point of doing things together and achieving standardisation. Our department has led New Zealand in many innovations in how we run a publicly-funded surgical service. The Urology Service is unique in that it is an ACU, an Autonomous Clinical Unit. This allows us to hold our own budget. As a result of this, you will find that there is a greater emphasis on cost saving and improved efficiency. Each dollar saved with greater efficiencies can be put back into the service, creating a better patient-focused service.
Within Urology here at Christchurch Hospital, we have four specialist uro-oncologists, who have subspecialty interests in robotic and minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of prostate cancer. We have two specialist paediatric urologists, who also treat paediatric patients across the South Island. The other subspecialties offered by the Urology Service include reconstruction, pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, spinal injury management and the treatment of kidney stones.
Mr Giovanni Losco
Dr George Acland
Mr Kevin Bax
Mr Nick Buchan
Dr Sharon English
Dr Frank Kueppers
Dr Jane MacDonald
Mr Stephen Mark
Dr Louise Rouse
Anne Murray
Ruth Abram
Angelo Corpuz
Jess Kearns
Vicky Pawsey
Katie Wheatley
Becky Ellis
Urology Unit
Level 2, Christchurch Women's Hospital
Riccarton Avenue
Christchurch
Phone: (03) 364 4307
Urology Outpatients
Christchurch Hospital Outpatients building
2 Oxford Terrace
Christchurch
Page last updated: 9 May 2023
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