Urology team presents at Parliament House roundtable in Canberra

The first hospital in Australia to offer patients a local anaesthetic (LA) transperineal prostate biopsy clinic, the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) Urology service is beginning to shape the pattern of prostate cancer care nationally.

It’s for this reason that FSH Urologist, Associate Professor Matt Brown, and FSH Clinical Nurse Specialist Emanuele Costanza, were invited to Parliament House in Canberra for a roundtable session last month.

The roundtable aimed to recognise the technique nationally and its potential to offer Australian men the option for a quick, safe, and accessible diagnostic procedure.

“It was such a privilege to attend the roundtable session with Matt in Canberra and showcase our service in front of the country’s leading clinicians, policymakers, and advocates,” Emanuele said.

“In 2019, FSH became the first public hospital in Australia to offer a LA transperineal prostate biopsy, and we’ve since been working to revolutionise clinic operations. As a team we’ve implemented changes that guarantee efficiency and timely prostate cancer investigation.”

“The role of LA transperineal biopsies as a transformative solution is being recognised nationally for its faster diagnosis, improved patient experience, and substantial cost savings to the public health system.”

Among the roundtable participants was also Special Envoy for Men’s Health, Mr Dan Repacholi, MP, who emphasised that breaking stigma, encouraging open conversations, and supporting early detection can change the future of prostate cancer in Australia.

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer for Australian men and each year 3,500 men die from it.

“Talking about men’s health saves lives which is why we also shared an interview with one of our prostate cancer patients that was produced in-house with our Medical Illustrations team,” Emanuele said.

“Our collective expertise and dedication on show at the roundtable served as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when the medical community comes together with shared purpose.”

“With so many men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, we have to work smarter not harder – and here at FSH we’re always looking for innovative approaches to continue this shared journey toward better men’s health.”

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