"An Albany based ED doctor, Thomas , who went above and beyond"

I took my sister to Albany Health Campus. She has experienced  such poor health in the last month that I was of the view she was very close to dying. In reality, my sister has been poorly for a couple of years, had quite a few tests and scans but has been completely inept at navigating the health system.

Her son took her to ED a few days earlier with similar concerns. Whilst she received very good care whilst there during the previous visit, had a CT scan and some blood tests, she returned home to return to a bedridden existence, breathless, almost unable to talk, with no change and a diagnosis of pneumonia and some antibiotics. With no plan.

Thomas was the allocated Doctor who treated my sister when we re-presented at ED. I asked Dr. Thomas if I could sit with my sister whilst she was being attended by him, given she tends to downplay her level of sickness, is often unable to recount what occurs when she visits anyone in the health system and hardly ever follows up. Thankfully he agreed.

What happened over the next few hours was absolutely amazing. Dr. Thomas sat down and talked to my sister. He didn't automatically didn't just try and come up with a diagnosis and shunt her out of the hospital. He took the time to discuss into her long medical history, asked incredibly careful questions, let my sister talk about many things. Dr. Thomas was completely non judgemental, incredibly patient and  thoughtful over about an hour or so, without rushing to conclusions.

My sister's history includes lung cancer, thyroid cancer, two quite serious car accidents in the last decade, as well as being a victim of 35 years of domestic violence. She has depression, not surprisingly. Throughout all of this, she ran a successful business for the last 18 years, ignored all her problems and got on with life. To her detriment.

Dr. Thomas instinctively worked out that to get the full story, he had to make enquiry slowly, prompt my sister and gain her trust. Gain her trust he did, like almost no-one has ever done in her life. Amazing. Before my very eyes. He  didn't judge, prompted her with careful questioning about health, symptoms and went at her pace.

Once he had a established what multifactorial health and personal issues my sister was dealing with, he reviewed her recent medical history, the scan from two days previous, her blood tests and various other records he could access. He made an incredibly in depth analysis of her complex situation.

Half an hour later he assured me that her vital organs were in good shape and that she was not dying. What a relief for although my sister hadn't really considered she was that poorly.

What followed next was an agreed way forward, hope and a plan for my sister to get her life and health back on track.

Dr. Thomas even helped with how to get the Centrelink issues sorted by way of a medical certificate she required but somehow had not managed to complete or submit. She has done so subsequently.

I have never seen a more impressive, caring Doctor ply his craft with such expertise, care, empathy and professionalism. My sister has never confided in anyone like she did that day. It was pretty unbelievable. 

I believe Dr. Thomas obviously loves his work and relates brilliantly with his patients. He also exudes confidence and and a breadth of knowledge. 

Dr. Thomas provided us with a rare example of everything good in the health system and has helped a damaged person start thinking about looking after herself properly. We cant thank him enough.

Thank you Thomas, from the bottom of our extended family's heart.