Page 41 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

INDUSTRY • HEALTH

What are the key areas of focus for
you and the hospital over the next 12
months?
It is an exciting time for the hospital
as we are growing our services. Within
12 months, we will open an after hours
GP clinic. I hear a lot of feedback
from the community requesting a
Cairns Private Hospital private emergency department. This is
something I would love to see happen
one day, however it is not the focus
at the moment. The priority focus is
Health technology is constantly increased the scope of private mental opening an after hours clinic in 2019
evolving, such as the robotic surgery health services for Cairns. which will allow people to access the
capabilities Cairns Private now hospital services directly after hours.
offers to patients. How do you find The demand and support for this
the balance between being at the “ service will assist us when considering
leading edge of technology while also Being part of the an emergency department in the
maintaining the highest level of safe future.
care for patients? largest private hospital It is my goal to also open an Intensive
We are genuine about ensuring we operator in Australia Care Unit. Whilst still in the planning
have leading edge technology within phase, the aim of an Intensive Care
our clinical capabilities. Typically, allows us to learn from Unit at Cairns Private Hospital will be
like the surgical robot, other Ramsay to provide private patients with more
Health Care sites in the bigger cities the experiences in other options for care.
have the technology prior to the As well as these initiatives, we will
regional centres. Being part of the hospitals be finalising the master plan for our
largest private hospital operator in facilities Cairns Private Hospital,
Australia allows us to learn from the ” Cairns Day Surgery and The Cairns
experiences in other hospitals and gain Clinic. The master plan will look at
the support of our sister facilities down You sit on the board of Cairns Penny what facility requirements we need
south so that we can balance fast- and have previously been on the board to meet the growing demands of
paced technological changes as well as of Regional Development Australia Far the region – such as the number of
maintain high levels of care. We ensure North Qld Torres Strait. Why did you operating theatres and bed capacity. I
that we have strict procedures around choose those particular organisations expect this to be completed in the next
safety in all aspects of our patient to be involved with? three months and I look forward to
care, including for any new services or I enjoy being part of Cairns Penny for announcing our longer-term plans
health technology. a number of reasons: it is a customer- once the master plan is completed.
owned bank, owned by the people of
You have previously spoken about Far North Queensland. The Penny Bank
focusing on mental health services has been around for over 100 years and
after you took on the role of CEO – it is also the only financial institution MORE: cairnsprivate.com.au
what would you like to see happen in with a head office in Cairns.
this space? I recently finished
The Cairns Clinic is the only private a term on the board
mental health facility in Cairns - and of RDAFNQTS and
it’s a hidden gem. In the past, the I enjoyed being part
Cairns Clinic has faced challenges in of the organisation’s
keeping up with the growing demands role to advocate for
of the community. I would like to see economic development
the Cairns Clinic meeting the mental and progress in our
health needs of our community. To do region. Whilst I am
that, we have recently employed a full- originally from New
time psychiatrist and also a psychiatric South Wales, I am
registrar. These recruitments have passionate about the
added significant capacity to the Cairns and Far North
facility and it means the Cairns Clinic Queensland community
has been able to reopen a second that has been my home
ward. We have also started offering for 15 years. And for
additional day programs for mood many more years to
disorders and anxiety, which has come, I hope.

41 • tropicnow.com.au