"Excellent care from the Rheumatology team at Royal Perth"

Earlier this year my partner became seriously unwell, very suddenly, with what we later found out was a complex autoimmune condition. She's originally from the UK, so when she was transferred to Royal Perth Hospital, we were a long way from home, from family, and from anything familiar. It was one of the most frightening periods of our lives, and in the middle of it she was facing a diagnosis neither of us understood, with a lot of uncertainty about what came next.

I want to take a moment to particularly thank Dr Zia-Ur and the Rheumatology team for the care they gave her.

From the very beginning, they treated my partner as a person, not just a set of symptoms or test results. DrZia-Ur took the time to actually sit with us and explain what was happening in a way we could understand — what the condition was, what the tests meant, what the plan was, and why. When you're frightened and out of your depth, being spoken to clearly and honestly, and being given the space to ask questions, makes an enormous difference. He never rushed us, and he always made my partner feel that her worries mattered and that she was part of the decisions about her own care.

The whole team showed the same kindness and thoroughness. Even as her treatment has changed and evolved along the way, we've always felt she was in safe, careful hands, and that it wasn't just her illness being looked after but her as a whole person — her wellbeing, her fears, and everything she was going through. That reassurance, during such an uncertain time, was worth more than I can easily put into words.

We're now moving forward with the next stage of her treatment, and while living with a long-term condition is still daunting, we feel genuinely supported and confident in the team looking after her. I don't think people always realise how much the manner and compassion of a medical team can shape a patient's whole experience, especially when they're scared. In our case, Dr Zia-Ur and his team made all the difference.

I wanted to share this because I think Dr Zia-Ur and the Rheumatology team at Royal Perth deserve to know the positive impact they've had. We are so grateful for everything they've done, and continue to do, for my partner. Thank you.