Surgery All 3 doctors at Anne Street Medical Centre do a variety of minor surgical procedures, mostly to a similar standard to fully trained surgeons, although we restrict ourselves to those simpler things that we have the facilities and expertise to tackle.

We are well acquainted with local surgeons with a variety of specialised skills and can put you in touch with the right person if needed.     Minor injuries We can repair many bits of skin and tissue that get torn around home and garden. If not, at least we can usually stabilise an injury and help you get you an urgent appointment at the right place.

If any oldies tear open the skin on their lower legs, for the love all things dear in this world, would they come and see the nurse straight away. We don't enjoy dressing ulcers for 4 or 5 months just because someone neglected a minor cut and stuck it down for a few days with Bandaid. Early attention saves weeks, sometimes months of healing.   Moles Most kiwis know that melanoma is a dangerous cancer, that an innocent-looking mole can spread cancer cells around your body and that people sometimes die from it, even as young adults. The only treatment that works for melanoma at present is surgical removal and the doctors at Anne Street are familiar with removing moles and take special care if there are any suspicious features. Surgeons will see referred suspected melanomas as urgent cases.

Have a look at the ABCD system for assessing moles, everybody in NZ should understand this.

Some people go and get their moles checked at a MoleMap centre. If you have a past history of melanoma, or lots of large odd moles, this might be a good idea - and it means you're taking moles seriously - but there has not yet been any research showing that digital "mole-mapping" makes a difference to the early detection and treatment outcomes of melanoma. The idea is attractive, but it has to be regarded as experimental. If your health budget is tight, MoleMaps might not be a good way to spend it.

  Skin cancers We diagnose many simple skin cancers by recognising something we see a lot of; skin cancer is very commonly seen in kiwis who grew up in this country and are over 60, although we see it in people as young as 30 . Other cancers may need a small sample to be taken for testing, a biopsy. We treat many simple skin cancers by cutting them off, although a new treatment called Aldara, which is rather like a caustic liquid but painless and non-scarring, is also sometimes very effective.

Complex skin cancers, for example those in awkward places such as around noses or eyes, need to be seen by plastic surgeons.   sewing arms back on   Actually, this is done in Middlemore Hospital, the regional public centre for plastic surgery.  

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surgery

minor injuries

moles

skin cancers

sewing arms back on