News & Events: Media Releases

Orthopaedic Outreach to the South Pacific

NOVEMBER 2006

The OrthopaedicTeam at St George Private Hospital have been helping heal the wounds, broken bones and sharing their expertise with communities in the South Pacific Islands for the last 11 years with Kogarah-based charity Orthopaedic Outreach.

Founded over 30 years ago by St George Private Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor Bill Cumming, this humanitarian program brings together teams of volunteer Orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, educators and other health care professionals from around Australia.

They travel to neighbouring developing countries and provide much needed surgery and medical intervention for patients and education on the latest techniques for local staff.

Richard Ibarra is the Nurse Unit Manager for Orthopaedics at St George’s Private Hospital. He was part of the team that travelled to Samoa for 10 days last year. “We saw 90 patients and performed 28 operations while we were there” said Richard.

“It was a great experience to provide surgery and medical help to people who don’t have access to even basic services like we do. We were operating in the conditions of the local hospitals, where the facilities, equipment and hygiene standards are far below what we know and expect in Australia.” Said Richard

Some of the most common cases seen by the medical team can include injuries as a result of falling from a coconut tree, motorbike and car accidents, falls from the back of trucks, machete/knife related injuries, club foot deformities and infections from coral cuts – which result in deformities that sometimes require amputation.

The teams need to take all the equipment they need with them including trays of sterilised operating equipment and items needed for Orthopaedic surgery such as pins, screws and bolts. All of the sterile and disposable surgical necessities items like dressings, gowns and gloves are also sent – with the average consignment weighing over half a ton!

Education and training of local staff is also a large component of the work of the Outreach team. Deirdre Smith and Annette Barrand are two dedicated nurses from St George Private who go to Lautoka Hospital in Fiji and Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar Bali. Sanglah Hospital was where all the Australian casualties from the Bali bombings were treated.

“We are committed to sharing our years of experience and providing this much needed education and training for local staff for Orthopaedic work and general nursing practises such as infection control, wound management, and hygiene practises just to name a few. “said Deirdre

“When we complete a training program in Fiji or Bali, we know that the people we have trained will continue to apply their new skills and begin passing on their knowledge and experience to others – just as we have”.

If you would like to know more about St George Private Hospital’s involvement in Orthopaedic Outreach, please contact Deirdre Smith on smithde@ramsayhealth.com.au

If you would like to know more about the work of Orthopaedic Outreach, visit www.orthoreach.org.au