World-class treatment 5 minutes from home

26 Oct 2024

In the heart of Moree, Gerald Brennan, a Murri man in his mid-70s, reflects on a life transformed by vision—both literal and metaphorical. With Irish ancestry and deep roots in the Kamilaroi Nation, Gerald’s story is one of resilience and hope, set against the backdrop of healthcare challenges.

Gerald’s troubles began in his late 60s. A respected builder and building inspector, he relied on his eyesight not just for his profession but for daily life. When vision issues surfaced, he spent eight frustrating months visiting various regional doctors, all of whom struggled to diagnose his condition.

No one could tell me what was wrong. I thought, ‘There must be somewhere I can go to understand what’s happening with my eyesight,’ because I was really worried, he said.

In 2022, Gerald went to the Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service, just a five-minute drive from his home, on a day when specialists had flown in from Sydney Eye Hospital to consult on eye conditions.

Professor Gerard Sutton, Ophthalmologist and Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation Board Director, was one of the visiting consultants.  A year prior, after consulting with stakeholders including Pius X Aboriginal Health Service, Brien Holden Foundation, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Optometry NSW, he identified an urgent need for eye health services in rural areas and worked with Pius X to expand the ophthalmic outreach clinic.

Dr Sutton took a look at my eye and said, 'We need to fix this, and quickly,' recalled Gerald.

Gerald was diagnosed with a serious eye condition caused by diabetes in both eyes, which required surgery on his left eye.

“That first trip to Sydney Eye Hospital was an emergency; I had to fly, which was costly, he explained.

The surgery took place in December 2022, at the Sydney Eye Hospital, under the skilled hands of Professor Andrew Chang.

Driving had become increasingly difficult for Gerald, especially with Moree being over 600 kilometres from Sydney. Long-distance travel posed a significant challenge. Subsequent journeys for specialist appointments often involved taking the train, a nine-hour ordeal made even more challenging by his vision problems.

“Being on the train for that long was tough when I couldn’t read anything,” said Gerald.

After the operation, Gerald’s vision gradually began to improve.

Gerald is grateful for the care he received and is very happy about his newfound vision.

“I’m feeling pretty good now,” he said with a smile.

Gerald is also quick to praise the specialists available in major cities like Sydney.

“The doctors at Sydney Eye Hospital are some of the best in Australia. Their knowledge and skills are something we really rely on,” he said.

However, he acknowledges the gaps in healthcare outside major cities. After all, it took several years before he got the referral he needed for sight-saving care in Sydney.

Gerald’s experience underscores the importance of improving access to eye healthcare for Indigenous peoples and those living in rural and remote areas. This is a priority for Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, which has been working to address these issues since 2021, culminating in the opening of the new Gadigal Eye Clinic at Sydney / Sydney Eye Hospital. In fact, Gerald was an early pioneer of the service.

Prof Sutton and G Brennan

In May 2023, Gerald was the first patient to trial the new virtual clinic linking the Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service Moree to what is now the Gadigal Eye Clinic for a post-surgery follow-up appointment. This gave him firsthand experience of the transformative potential of this innovation.

Virtual health operates with retinal cameras in regional areas that enable GPs and nurses in outreach centres to capture detailed medical images aiding in the diagnosis of eye issues and facilitating collaboration with specialists at the Gadigal Eye Clinic to develop treatment plans.

This technology not only allows for earlier interventions, making conditions easier to treat, but also reduces the need for ongoing travel to Sydney for follow-up appointments after surgery.

“The clinic was impressive; I really appreciate what they’ve done, and it’s only a short drive from my home,” said Gerald.

“Now, with the connection to the camera, I can have my appointment with Dr Sutton right here. They can take a close look at my eye without me needing to travel all that distance to Sydney again,” he said.

This innovation has significantly impacted Gerald’s life, allowing him to connect with his healthcare team without the burden of long-distance travel.

Gerald remains committed to supporting initiatives that will expand access to such technology across regional areas.

“It would be fantastic to have funding to install these cameras in more centres. They’ve made a real difference for me,” he said, expressing his desire to help others facing similar challenges.

Today, Gerald enjoys simple pleasures—playing lawn bowls, cards, and the occasional bet on the races. His journey has been a testament to the power of community and healthcare that is culturally sensitive and responsive. As he looks toward the future, Gerald hopes to spend more time in Narrabri, where his wife Del is from.

“All I want is to drive down there and feel safe doing it,” he concluded, a goal that now seems within reach thanks to advancements in eye care and his newfound vision.