Cairns board in top health
THE PEOPLE GUIDING THE CAIRNS AND HINTERLAND HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE SHARE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING DR AMANDA ROBERTS, WRITES PETER CARRUTHERS
FROM running a community HIV clinic in South Africa to doing emergency outback patient retrievals with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, new Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service board member Dr Amanda Roberts brings a wide range of medical experience to the boardroom table.
Originally training as an intensive care registered nurse and midwife, the dual South African/Australian national has lived and worked in Far North Queensland for the past 12-years during which time Dr Roberts experienced rotations in both ICU, anaesthetics and the Emergency Department at Cairns Hospital.
She currently works as a
GP at the Stratford Medical Centre.
Joining the CHHHS board last month at the height of a health crisis never before experienced, the experience gained through dealing with arguably the biggest challenge ever faced by the service was “invaluable”, Dr Roberts said.
“The lessons learned have been invaluable and will be applied to pandemic plans for any future responses needed. We are still learning, and are prepared for any future outbreak if this should occur,” she said.
“CHHHS has done an enormous amount of work in preparing and supporting readiness initiatives. The bulk of this is often unseen, and costly, however has stood us in good stead as a community.”
Passionate about innovation in service delivery, efficiency and digital advances, Dr Roberts hoped her appointment to the CHHHS board would drive positive change.
“I would love to see better communication between the hospital sector and the primary health and community providers. This includes all services working across areas with improved patient outcomes,” she said.
Bringing an outlook to the role informed by exposure to populations at Cape York where support services were often unavailable and in South Africa where poverty, the burden of disease and lack of opportunity was endemic, Dr Roberts hoped an “alignment of values” could benefit all.
“I am passionate about providing access to care to vulnerable and marginalised community members,” she said.
“I am also aware that we need to reduce the impact of unnecessary presentations to the emergency department which increases wait times for those needing care, and pro
THE DUAL SOUTH AFRICAN/AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HAS LIVED AND WORKED IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND FOR THE PAST 12-YEARS DR AMANDA ROBERTS
vides increased workload to health professionals.
“I am committed to improving the relationships and communication between the CHHHS and the health professionals, health staff and support services, and clients using the services.”
Dr Roberts arrived in Cairns in 2007 and set up the Stratford Medical Centre in 2014 before forming Wheels of Wellness to provide outreach quality medical care to the disadvantaged.
All theses roles keep Dr Roberts busy but the most important job in her life is being a mum to two teenage children.
“I am fortunate to watch them grow up and navigate through this very busy world we live in,” she said.
“(And) I am completely crazy about dogs and always wanted to be a vet. I love a challenge and am game to give new opportunities a go. I believe in the idea of every persona being able to make the world a better place, in some particular way.”
Stepping up to the challenges created by the COVID pandemic, Dr Roberts has been inspired at how our city had handled the crisis.
“I have noticed is the getting to know your neighbours, the emphasis of supporting local business and services, I have loved the creativity shown by local businesses to innovate and continue to operate in challenging times,” she said.
“I have been moved by the support for health professionals and the vulnerable by many.”
However, Dr Roberts urged caution when it came to opening national borders.
“A cautious approach to easing restrictions will probably be to the long term advantage of the tourist industry,” she said. “The premature removal of restrictions (overseas) and the subsequent spike in infection rates has meant that more severe restrictions have had to be implemented.”
THE LESSONS LEARNED HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE, AND WILL BE APPLIED TO PANDEMIC PLANS FOR ANY FUTURE RESPONSES DR AMANDA ROBERTS