Minister for Health, the Hon Ryan Park MP, and Professor Andrew Chang, Head of Ophthalmology at Sydney Eye Hospital and Chair of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, cutting the ribbon on the Gadigal Eye Clinic
Critical eye assessments can now be provided to patients living in regional and remote areas of new South Wales as a result of telehealth technology installed at the newly opened Gadigal Eye Clinic at Sydney Eye Hospital.
Jennie Barry, General Manager at the Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital, said the new clinic will help “Close the gap by reducing barriers to accessing eye care – particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in rural and remote locations – and improving coordination of care between different providers”.
“The new technology will enable local teams based in regional and rural NSW to be able to call on the specialist expertise of both Sydney/Sydney Eye and Prince of Wales Hospital,” she said.
The clinic, based at Sydney Eye Hospital, has already made a significant difference to the eye health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people all over NSW.
… it will be possible for GPs and nurses to image patients’ eyes and transfer the images to specialists at the Gadigal Eye Clinic, allowing for real-time consultations…
More than 90,000 patients have already been seen for corneal, retinal, and general eye treatment since the clinic, originally known as the Bicentennial Eye Clinic, was set up in 2014.
Now, with new retinal cameras installed in outreach centres, it will be possible for GPs and nurses to image patients’ eyes and transfer the images to specialists at the Gadigal Eye Clinic, allowing for real-time consultations and follow-ups, significantly improving access to care.
Access to this service will support Indigenous people, no matter where they live, to have the same access to services, without needing to leave their community. They can have peace of mind knowing their ongoing care is provided in partnership with local healthcare providers. This virtual service will begin in 2025.
Patients who need to be treated in person at the Macquarie Street clinic will have a welcoming, culturally safe space that includes artwork by Aboriginal artist and Yuin man, Billy Reynolds. The hospital grounds have also been transformed with guardian stones and Australian native plants.
Aboriginal people are three times more likely to suffer from visual impairments than non-Aboriginal Australians…
Official Opening
The Gadigal Eye Clinic was officially opened at an event on Thursday 23 October by Professor Andrew Chang, Head of Ophthalmology at Sydney Eye Hospital and Chair of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and Minister for Health, the Hon Ryan Park MP.
“We know that Aboriginal people are three times more likely to suffer from visual impairments than non-Aboriginal Australians,” said Mr Park. “They are also four times more likely to have diabetic eye disease and 12 times more likely to have a blinding cataract.
“This clinic will address these statistics, acting as a hub for in-person as well as virtual care services for eye patients throughout rural and regional NSW.
“The Gadigal clinic will provide world-class care in an environment that prioritises the needs and comfort of the clients – by doing so, we can provide the best patient-centred and holistic healthcare.
“I’m really proud Sydney Eye Hospital are embracing virtual care, as it goes a long way to ensuring all communities have the very best standards of healthcare, whether they are in rural, regional, remote or large metropolitan areas.”
Also in attendance was Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris who said, “Closing the gap to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people and to do so in a culturally safe and appropriate way is a top priority of the Minns Labor Government and the Gadigal Eye Clinic is a perfect example of this.”
Acknowledging the disparity that exists in the delivery of eye health services across NSW, Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich said, “People in the city can take for granted how lucky we are to have so many medical specialists so accessible compared to remote and regional areas. The Gadigal Eye Clinic not only bridges that gap through technology allowing teams based at the Sydney clinic to diagnose and provide a treatment plan for eye issues, it also helps to close the gap of the poor eye health, impairment and blindness currently disproportionately experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Fundraising by the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation helped raise $200,000 towards creating this welcoming and safe environment.
