News

13th charity trip for Strathfield Private Hospital nurse

Aug 14, 2019

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.