Published Thursday, 14 February, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
QUEENSLAND SURGEON AIDS TIMOR SOLDIER
A Queensland doctor who helped save the life of an East Timorese army commander has shown how capable and dedicated Queensland Health professionals are, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
“Dr Sarah Olsen, a senior neurosurgeon at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, returned from Darwin yesterday after assisting in the emergency medical response following an attempted coup in East Timor on Monday,” Mr Robertson said.
“Dr Olsen was seconded to the response team that provided medical help to those injured and airlifted from East Timor this week.
“Among those assisted was the army commander, who was with the president at during the attempted coup, and who suffered a large head wound from gunfire, with bullet fragments lodged in his brain.
“The commander required emergency surgery by doctors on the ground in Dili guided by neurosurgeons in Australia via telephone link,” Mr Robertson said.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said Dr Olsen had just completed a difficult operation in the theatre at PAH when she received the call to be ready to leave for Darwin in half an hour.
“Dr Olsen reported that the patient suffered extensive and life-threatening injuries but thanks to emergency assistance from doctors in the Australian Military Hospital in Dili the man’s condition was stabilized,” Dr Young said.
“A series of telephone links with neurosurgeons were required to enable the army doctors to perform the emergency surgery.
“The general surgeons in the Australian Military Hospital were able to remove the bullet fragments, stop any bleeding and clean up the open wound to the point that his condition stabilised significantly.
“After the patient arrived at Royal Darwin Hospital Dr Olsen was able to assist the team of general surgeons in providing an ongoing care plan for his recovery,” Dr Young said.
Mr Robertson and Dr Young thanked Dr Olsen and the many other health staff for the critical role they played in this response.
“Doctors and nurses who participate in these type of events have to be particularly committed because they are required to drop what they’re doing at a moment’s notice and put their lives on hold to help someone in need,” Mr Robertson said.
“We are very fortunate to have such talented and dedicated professionals like Sarah working in our health system.
“Our staff consistently step forward to be part of response teams, whether its here, interstate or overseas.
“They have been involved in such response efforts as the Bali bombings, Cyclone Larry, the Indian Ocean tsunami and the Garuda plane crash in Indonesia last year,” Mr Robertson said.
Dr Young said the state government jet was used to ensure Dr Olsen’s skills were available as soon as possible.
“Queensland is unique in having access to the government jet rather than having to charter a plane through commercial means,” Dr Young said.
"It has been used to move doctors, medicine and even organs and, in an emergency situation, it’s little things like this which can make all the difference.”
14 February, 2008
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
Dr Sarah Olsen will be available at the Princess Alexandra Hospital tomorrow morning for follow-up interviews from 10am to 11am. Please contact Penny Geraghty at Princess Alexandra Hospital for more information on 3240 7899 or 0412 548 872.
MEDIA:
HEALTH MINISTERS OFFICE 3225 2680
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER 3234 1220
“Dr Sarah Olsen, a senior neurosurgeon at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, returned from Darwin yesterday after assisting in the emergency medical response following an attempted coup in East Timor on Monday,” Mr Robertson said.
“Dr Olsen was seconded to the response team that provided medical help to those injured and airlifted from East Timor this week.
“Among those assisted was the army commander, who was with the president at during the attempted coup, and who suffered a large head wound from gunfire, with bullet fragments lodged in his brain.
“The commander required emergency surgery by doctors on the ground in Dili guided by neurosurgeons in Australia via telephone link,” Mr Robertson said.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said Dr Olsen had just completed a difficult operation in the theatre at PAH when she received the call to be ready to leave for Darwin in half an hour.
“Dr Olsen reported that the patient suffered extensive and life-threatening injuries but thanks to emergency assistance from doctors in the Australian Military Hospital in Dili the man’s condition was stabilized,” Dr Young said.
“A series of telephone links with neurosurgeons were required to enable the army doctors to perform the emergency surgery.
“The general surgeons in the Australian Military Hospital were able to remove the bullet fragments, stop any bleeding and clean up the open wound to the point that his condition stabilised significantly.
“After the patient arrived at Royal Darwin Hospital Dr Olsen was able to assist the team of general surgeons in providing an ongoing care plan for his recovery,” Dr Young said.
Mr Robertson and Dr Young thanked Dr Olsen and the many other health staff for the critical role they played in this response.
“Doctors and nurses who participate in these type of events have to be particularly committed because they are required to drop what they’re doing at a moment’s notice and put their lives on hold to help someone in need,” Mr Robertson said.
“We are very fortunate to have such talented and dedicated professionals like Sarah working in our health system.
“Our staff consistently step forward to be part of response teams, whether its here, interstate or overseas.
“They have been involved in such response efforts as the Bali bombings, Cyclone Larry, the Indian Ocean tsunami and the Garuda plane crash in Indonesia last year,” Mr Robertson said.
Dr Young said the state government jet was used to ensure Dr Olsen’s skills were available as soon as possible.
“Queensland is unique in having access to the government jet rather than having to charter a plane through commercial means,” Dr Young said.
"It has been used to move doctors, medicine and even organs and, in an emergency situation, it’s little things like this which can make all the difference.”
14 February, 2008
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
Dr Sarah Olsen will be available at the Princess Alexandra Hospital tomorrow morning for follow-up interviews from 10am to 11am. Please contact Penny Geraghty at Princess Alexandra Hospital for more information on 3240 7899 or 0412 548 872.
MEDIA:
HEALTH MINISTERS OFFICE 3225 2680
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER 3234 1220