Mr Michael Laney

MB ChB 1972 Otago; Dip Obst 1974 Auckland; MRCOG 1978; FRANZCOG 1982

Michael graduated MBChB from Otago University Medical School in 1972. He spent his first years as junior medical officer working at the Christchurch Hospitals and for the last two years of this period Michael worked as registrar in obstetrics & gynaecology at the Christchurch Women’s Hospital before heading overseas for further advanced training.

Michael spent two years in the United Kingdom, one year at Oxford University working at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals and one year at Bournemouth working at the Royal Victoria and Christchurch Hospitals.

In 1980 Michael returned to New Zealand and took up an appointment as tutor specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

Later that year Michael was appointed to a consultant post in obstetrics and gynaecology and he was able to take up this post the following year when his training was complete. At that same time Michael was appointed honorary lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology to the Christchurch Branch of the Otago University Medical School and he also entered private practice.

Michael has continued in private practice and hospital practice since that time and in 1996 with fellow surgical colleagues he developed and established The Oxford Women’s Clinic in Christchurch. Oxford Women’s Health provides specialist consultation services in obstetrics & gynaecology and colorectal and gastrointestinal disorders and incorporates the Oxford Women’s Health Hospital which carries out a large range of surgical procedures but specialises in advanced endoscopic surgery.

Whilst in the United Kingdom Michael developed an interest in the surgical management of gynaecological cancer and he continued this interest after returning to New Zealand. Over a period of time Michael has been able to play a significant part in the establishment of the Gynae/Oncology Centre in Christchurch which is now the tertiary referral centre for gynaecological malignancies for the whole of the South Island.

Michael’s other major interest was the development of advanced endoscopic surgical techniques by the means of both hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgery.

Michael has been able to combine his interests in advanced endoscopic surgery and gynaecological malignancy so that much of his surgical work in the field of gynaecological cancer is now carried out laparoscopically.

Michael joined with John Doig in the raising of funds for the establishment of the South Island's first in vitro fertilisation unit at the Christchurch Women’s Hospital. This unit opened on 27 April 1991 and continues to serve the South Island population successfully and with excellent results.

In 1995 Michael was appointed Clinical Director of Gynaecology and Gynaecological Oncology at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, a post that he held continuously until relinquishing it in 2006 to allow him to spend more time pursuing his clinical interests.

Along with his O & G colleagues at Oxford Women’s Health Michael has helped in the development of The Endometriosis Centre and this service provides medical and surgical management for New Zealand women who suffer from this debilitating disorder.

In 1998 Michael was admitted to the subspecialty qualification of gynaecological oncology by the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.