Fit for Surgery programme comes to an end

Sport Whanganui is saddened to announce the end of its Fit for Surgery programme, despite demonstrating tremendous success since its launch in 2018.

A health programme designed to support people to lose weight prior to having elective hip and knee surgery, Fit for Surgery is led by a registered nurse based at Sport Whanganui, where patients are seen and assessed.

Sport Whanganui chief executive Tania King says she was informed last week that the Fit for Surgery programme would no longer be funded beyond the end of June 2025.

“Te Whatu Ora Whanganui has confirmed that the Fit for Surgery programme as it is currently delivered by Sport Whanganui will not be renewed at the end of the current contract, despite our health team delivering incredible results for the Whanganui community since 2018.”

“We have been strongly advocating for the continuation of the programme for several months now. It is incredibly disappointing that Te Whatu Ora Whanganui are choosing to no longer fund the programme in its current format, when Fit for Surgery is seen as a groundbreaking example among hospitals across the country, with many wanting to set up a similar programme for their patients.”

King says there have been 116 people referred on for surgery since the programme began in 2018, with a further 30 patients progressing to a point where they have opted not to have surgery, saving the system an estimated $900,000.

“Beyond the obvious community impact that this will have, we are devastated to lose one of our valued team members in Fit for Surgery Navigator, Ceinwen Pa’a. Ceinwen’s skills as a registered nurse and calm, supportive demeanour make her a fabulous fit for this role and we know how much her patients appreciate her dedication and commitment to their wellbeing.”

“It is also extremely disappointing news for our existing patients, many of whom are very close to reaching their goals to be referred for surgery.”

Sport Whanganui is contacting all existing patients, GPs and other referrers to inform them of the ending of the programme. As there is currently no confirmation from Te Whatu Ora of a plan for continuation of care for existing patients, they are being advised to contact their GP directly or reach out to Te Whatu Ora Whanganui with any enquiries.

How it works

After an initial assessment, the Navigator meets with a patient and codesigns a care plan, and referrals are made to other registered health professionals if needed. Rural clients who are unable to access services in Whanganui are visited by the Navigator, provided with education and linked with local services where this is available.

Clients might spend 6-12 months or more working with other services and modifying their lifestyle to reach their goal. Once goals are met, clients are referred for an orthopaedic assessment and other screening procedures at the hospital services in preparation for surgery.

Weight loss improves a patient’s ability to tolerate the physiological stress of a surgical process and anaesthetic requirements and reduces the likelihood of adverse events in the aftermath of the surgery.

Pre-surgical weight loss also impacts on hospital staff stress levels, by enhancing patient safety in the perioperative period potentially reducing exposure to heavy lifting and the risk of associated injury.

The award-winning Fit for Surgery programme was founded by anaesthetist Dr Marco Meijer and developed with help from patients, dieticians and Sport Whanganui.