March 2004

Medals recognise outstanding service

Australia Day Public Service Medal winner Shirley (Lee) Douglas represents everything that constitutes a complete health worker, says Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Nephrology Director Professor Gavin Becker.

Ms Douglas was awarded her medal for outstanding public service to kidney failure care, particularly at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the North West Dialysis Service.

As part of her nomination, Professor Becker said he first met Ms Douglas in 1973, when he was a very junior doctor and she was training one of the first patients to go home from the Royal Melbourne Hospital as a Home Haemodialysis Patient.

‘At that time I was enormously impressed by her dedication to the patient’s and his carer’s needs, her deep understanding of the many technical, medical and social issues around dialysis and chronic renal failure management and her meticulous attention to detail.

‘In the 30 years since then I have had no cause to revise any of these initial opinions.’

At that time, the Royal Melbourne Hospital had only 24 patients on dialysis.

Since, the program has grown to be Australia’s biggest—the North West Dialysis Service—with 650 patients distributed throughout Victoria in a network which involves satellite centres in many metropolitan and rural hospitals as well as one of Australia’s largest populations of patients dialysing in their own home.

‘This development—from 1973 when it was almost an ‘experimental cottage industry’, to a well-organised program delivering first-rate care to patients throughout Victoria—is very much due to the pivotal and continuous role performed by Lee Douglas,’ Professor Becker said.

‘Every year now about 150 patients commence dialysis at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

‘Almost all are counselled and advised by Lee Douglas, to make sure their transition to artificial kidney treatment is as smooth as can be possible in this very stressful time,’ Professor Becker said.

Public hospital staff were among several recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.

Southern Health’s Chief Medical Officer Syd Allen was awarded a Public Service Medal for his leadership within the public health system.

The award noted Dr Allen’s pivotal role in the relocation of the Queen Victoria Medical Centre, Prince Henry’s Hospital and the foundation of Monash Medical Centre and Southern Health.

He also played a key part in establishing the State’s first midwife-run birth centre and delivered about 2,000 babies during his career as an obstetrician.

Dr Allen has served as Chief Medical Officer at Southern Health and its predecessor organisations for 21 years.

He has also served on a number of influential professional and Government advisory committees and reviews.

Austin Health’s Patient Representative Lyn Roberton was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Ms Roberton is available for consultation to patients who have issues or complaints about their care, often due to a breakdown in communications.

She is also ‘just there’ to ensure patients are generally satisfied with their time at Austin Health.

‘I try to resolve complaints in a way that satisfies everyone—I really enjoy feeling that something has improved as a result of the complaints process we have in place.’

Ms Roberton has been with Austin Health for 20 years and has been Patient Representative for eight years.

Five years ago she received Austin Health’s own Australia Day Award.

Department of Human Services’ staff member Helena Kauppinen also was awarded a Public Service Medal.

Ms Kauppinen received the award in recognition of her work in health and community services and to the people of the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Ms Kauppinen has worked continuously in the Victorian public service since March 1968, beginning in the Fisheries and Wildlife Service before moving to the former Department of Health in December 1984.

During her past 13 years, Ms Kauppinen has worked as part of a number of different small multidisciplinary teams—focusing on palliative care, community aged care and family and community support—in Regional offices of the Department of Human Services and its predecessor.

She is currently responsible for the Neighbourhood House, Family Violence Support Services and Telephone Counselling programs in the Western Metropolitan Region.