Robotic Urological Surgery
Dr Sarah O'Neill is a consultant urologist with a sub-specialty focus in robotic kidney surgery, offering internationally trained expertise to patients across Perth for partial nephrectomy. With advanced fellowship training at some of the United Kingdom's most respected surgical centres, Dr O'Neill brings a level of precision and experience to robotic urological surgery that is rare in Western Australia.
OVERVIEW
What is Robotic Urological Surgery?
Robotic surgery is an advanced minimally invasive technique that enables complex urological procedures to be performed through small keyhole incisions using a robotic surgical system. Specialised instruments are introduced through tiny incisions in the abdominal wall, while Dr O'Neill operates from a nearby console that provides a magnified, high-definition 3D view of the surgical site.
Dr O'Neill uses the da Vinci robotic platform, which offers enhanced precision, dexterity and control — qualities that are particularly valuable in kidney surgery, where anatomy is intricate and accuracy is essential. Robotic assistance allows Dr O'Neill to perform delicate dissection, precise reconstruction and careful tissue handling that would be considerably more demanding through conventional open or laparoscopic approaches. The recovery is significantly improved and length of stay significantly shortened by robotic assisted surgery.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Compared to open surgery, robotic urological surgery offers patients a number of meaningful advantages:
Reduced post-operative pain and discomfort
Faster return to normal activities and daily life
Minimised intraoperative blood loss
Shorter hospital stays
Less visible scarring
Lower risk of wound complications
These benefits are particularly significant for patients undergoing cancer surgery, where achieving the best oncological outcome while preserving function and quality of life is the overarching goal.
Dr O'Neill's Training and International Fellowship Experience
Dr O'Neill's surgical expertise has been shaped by a rigorous training pathway with a strong emphasis on advanced robotic technique. After completing her FRACS in Urology in 2020 — including a general and robotic fellowship at University Hospital Geelong — she pursued further specialised training in the United Kingdom.
She completed a Royal College of Surgeons of England accredited Robotic Oncology Fellowship in renal cancer at Frimley Park Hospital, home to the Frimley Renal Cancer Centre, one of the UK's leading centres for robotic kidney surgery. There she trained alongside high-volume retroperitoneal robotic kidney surgeons who are internationally recognised for their expertise in technically demanding minimally invasive approaches. Alongside this, Dr O'Neill served as an honorary fellow at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London — one of the world's foremost cancer institutions — gaining further experience in open renal surgery for complex oncological cases.
This breadth of training across robotic, laparoscopic and open techniques means Dr O'Neill is well placed to tailor her surgical approach to each patient's individual circumstances, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method.
ROBOTIC SURGERY
Robotic Urological Procedures
Dr O'Neill performs a comprehensive range of robotic and laparoscopic urological procedures, with particular expertise in uro-oncology. Her surgical practice includes:
Kidney Surgery
Robotic partial nephrectomy (kidney-sparing tumour removal)
Robotic radical nephrectomy
A Closer Look: Robotic Kidney Surgery
LEADING ROBOTIC KIDNEY SURGEON PERTH
Kidney surgery represents one of Dr O'Neill's primary areas of expertise, underpinned by her fellowship training at the Frimley Renal Cancer Centre and the Royal Marsden Hospital. For patients diagnosed with kidney cancer or other conditions requiring surgical intervention, she offers the full spectrum of approaches — robotic, laparoscopic and open — and will recommend the most appropriate technique based on tumour characteristics, anatomy and individual patient factors.
Where possible, Dr O'Neill prioritises nephron-sparing surgery — procedures that remove the tumour while preserving as much healthy kidney tissue as possible. Robotic partial nephrectomy is the gold standard approach for suitable kidney tumours, and Dr O'Neill's fellowship training with high-volume retroperitoneal robotic surgeons has given her particular proficiency in this technically demanding procedure.
For patients with larger or more complex renal tumours where complete kidney removal is necessary, Dr O'Neill performs robotic and open radical nephrectomy, drawing on experience gained across both her Australian training and her time at two of the UK's leading renal cancer centres.
Dedicated To Your Urological Care
Dr O'Neill returned to Perth in 2022 and holds a public consultant urologist position at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, one of Western Australia's principal tertiary referral centres for complex urological conditions. She also consults and operates privately at Hollywood Hospital.
She is committed to remaining at the forefront of her field, regularly attending specialist conferences and continuing medical education, and contributing to the training of the next generation of urologists through mentorship of medical students and urology registrars from both Western Australian medical schools.
Patients referred to Dr O'Neill can expect a thorough, individualised assessment and an open discussion of all available surgical options, so that together the most appropriate approach can be chosen for their particular needs and circumstances.