The Ramsay Way 2019 | 03 19
HOSPITAL NEWS
Joondalup and training provider enhance Aboriginal employment
A relationship between Joondalup Health Campus and Indigenous healthcare training provider Marr Mooditj is helping to maximise Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander employment.
The relationship between the two organisations started
ten years ago and the hospital currently employs some
of the graduates and takes students on placement.
Last week, 21-year-old Kayla Dickie of Marangaroo
was working at JHC to fulfil requirements for completing
her Certificate IV in Primary Health, which will give
her the equivalent of an Assistant in Nursing (Advanced
Skill) qualification.
She has just completed her three week placement at
the hospital, where she has spent time working with the
Aboriginal Liaison Team, on a medical ward and in the
Emergency Department.
“It’s been really good, I’ve enjoyed the variety of work and
have learnt a lot,” she said.
JHC Aboriginal Liaison Officer Tammy Symmans helped
teach Kayla during her first week, providing valuable tips
and also genuine understanding, having herself been in
the first group of nurses to graduate from Marr Mooditj ten
years ago.
“I’d completed a Certificate IV – Health Science
Foundation and then went on to complete my enrolled
nursing qualification,” she said. “I was a single mother
at the time and living up in Geraldton. It was hard work
but I kept going and I’m so glad I did.”
On graduating, Tammy worked for sister Ramsay Health
Care site, Hollywood Private Hospital, for several years,
before moving on to work for Brightwater Aged Care and
most recently joining JHC as one of three newly-recruited
Aboriginal Health Officers.
She says that helping Kayla has taken her right back to
her days as a student and she’s really enjoyed giving back
to the next generation.
Kayla said that in high school she always thought she
wanted to go into nursing, but a passion for netball side-tracked
her career goal for several years.
Now the Marr Mooditj student is back on track after
a chat with her Mum.
“Mum said I either should go into mental health work
on into primary health – and so that’s what I did and
here I am,” she said.
Although she isn’t yet sure what she wants to do when
she graduates, Kayla says she is enjoying the learning
journey and has appreciated the support of Tammy and
other staff who have made her feel welcome and valued.
“It’s been good place for me to get experience in a
hospital setting and I’ve learnt heaps,” she said.
New Aboriginal Liaison Officers: Tina Garlett , Justin Martin and Tammy Symmans.
Laser device treats enlarged prostates and kidney stones at
John Flynn Private Hospital
A minimally invasive procedure using a laser device to treat enlarged prostates and remove kidney stones is now available at John Flynn Private Hospital.
The 100-Watt high-powered Cyber Holmium Laser Quanta
System was proposed by urologist Dr Martin Elmes for
placement at the facility.
The system’s multi-application laser platform can be used
to perform:
• Holmium Laser Enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), which is
a technique for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH) to remove obstructing prostatic tissue causing
increased urinary outflow obstruction in men.
• Lithotripsy, which is the treatment/removal of kidney stones.
The device offers a ‘vapor tunnel’ which creates an ‘invisible
basket’ to help reduce stone movement while lasering.
The laser device follows the exact anatomical plane in a
prostate with ultimate precision, allowing complete resection
of obstructing tissue while preserving the outer capsule,
erectile nerves and urethral sphincter.
Dr Elmes said benefits of the HoLEP procedure with the
laser device can include “minimal bleeding as there is less
cutting required, speedy recovery time, minimal re-operation
rate, and lower chance of erectile dysfunction.”
BPH is the most common cancerous prostate disease,
affecting 50 per cent of men between 51 and 60 years old
and 90 per cent of men over the age of 80.
“Men experience varying symptoms of BPH with different
degrees of bother, including increased frequency and
urgency of urination, difficulty starting, maintaining and
finishing urination. They may also experience urine
infections,” Dr Elmes said.
So far, more than 50 men have undergone treatment at the
hospital using the new laser device.