The Ramsay Way 2019 | 03 21
Remembering a kind and passionate
hospital pioneer
On behalf of the staff at Waverley Private Hospital, we would like to pay tribute to Dr Peter Castran
– a founder of our hospital – who has passed away at the age of 93.
Dr Castran earned his degree at Melbourne University after
moving from Canada in 1948.
He spent time working at the Royal Melbourne, Royal
Women’s and Royal Children’s Hospital – where he met his
wife Lorna while she was nursing.
The couple took a risk and moved to Mount Waverley to set
up the Mount Waverley Clinic. The roads were unmade, and
most days came with the challenge of trying to drive through
muddy streets.
Dr Castran was a true family doctor committed to ensuring
patients received the highest quality care. He made patient
house calls at all hours and delivered more than 10,000
babies throughout his career.
It was during this time, he was instrumental in helping to set
up Waverley Private Hospital, which opened in 1972 and has
now grown to a 98-bed facility.
In his personal life, Dr Castran has been described as a kind
and compassionate father and husband who was proud of his
three sons, wife, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We
would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Dr Castran’s
friends and family during this time.
13th charity trip for
Strathfield Private
Hospital nurse
A theatre nurse at Strathfield Private Hospital
has volunteered as part of an Interplast program
to provide medical training and life-changing
surgery at Da Nang Hospital in Vietnam.
Interplast aims to ‘repair bodies and rebuild lives’ by sending
teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons,
anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to 17
countries across the Asia Pacific region.
The mission to Vietnam was the 13th charity trip for Annie
Porter, who works as a registered nurse in the theatre
complex at Strathfield Private Hospital.
The Interplast team, which consisted of two surgeons,
a hand therapist and a nurse, took 150kg of surgical
equipment from Australia to be used in clinics, surgery and
for post operative care.
Ms Porter said: “I am fortunate to be involved in this
program, imparting my knowledge and nursing skills to local
nurses. It is also very humbling to experience the immense
gratitude from staff and patients.”
The local staff and volunteer team worked together to
achieve the best outcome for patients. The majority of
operations performed were to release burn contractures
which can be very debilitating.
“Ramsay Health Care and Strathfield Private Hospital
encourage me to continue my professional development
and are proud supporters of my missions,” Ms Porter said.
Miracle mum completes HBF Run for a Reason
Just over a year ago Justine McFarlane could barely walk from one end of the house to the other unaided,
but recently the 38-year-old mother-of-four completed the HBF Run for a Reason, finishing the four kilometre
prams and walkers route in just over 40 minutes.
In 2018, Justine nearly died during the birth of her fourth
child when she lost nearly 80 per cent of her blood due to
complications that arose during her pregnancy.
The Joondalup Health Campus midwife says she was
incredibly proud to have made it to the finish line of the event
on Sunday, with her older daughter Amarri (3), baby Kalea (1)
and friends Lauren McCourts and Jason Marrs, as part of the
Ramsay Health Care team.
“A year ago I was recovering from my third surgery at JHC,
following the fight of my life. Today I am doing this event
surrounded by my family, friends and colleagues and for that
I am so thankful,” she said. “I’m so grateful and proud to have
been able to be a part of it this year! Go Team Ramsay!”
Justine developed several serious conditions during her
pregnancy which were identified early on and a plan was in
place to manage the risks she faced.
“I had been booked for a caesarean at 38 weeks, but I ended
up with an emergency caesarean at 35 weeks after suffering a
placental abruption, where the placenta separates early from
the uterus, causing massive internal bleeding,” she said.
“The doctors, midwives and a multitude of other staff worked
really hard to stop the bleeding and, being a midwife by
training, I knew exactly the danger that both I and my baby
were in – which was incredibly scary.”
“In fact, it was such a traumatic experience that, although I
came through it physically, I ended up with post-natal anxiety
as I started to process everything.”
“To get through this and mentally unpack it has involved
immense support from my family and friends – as well as
professional support – and what I’ve learned is that it is so
important to talk about how you really feel. Don’t pretend that
things are okay if they are not.”
“Talking to other women who had been through similar
experiences definitely helped – as well as counselling – and
I only hope that in sharing my story, I’ll help to raise awareness
and perhaps this will save a life or help one of the readers
of The Ramsay Way.”
Ramsay Health Care was named the largest corporate team
in the HBF Run for a Reason again this year, with more than
600 staff signed up.
Operations Executive Manager (Western Region) Kevin Cass-
Ryall said the company would donate the $1000 prize money
to the national charity Lifeline.
“Lifeline provides an amazing service to Australians
experiencing personal crisis with a 24 hour telephone support
line and suicide prevention services,” he said.
“We live in a time where we are all under so much pressure
that it’s little wonder that so many of us need mental health
support – and there is no shame in that, the important thing
is to make that call, ask for help.”
Lifeline can be contacted on 13 11 14.
HOSPITAL NEWS
Left to right: Amarri (3), Justine, baby Kalea (1), and friends Lauren McCourts and Jason Marrs