Long time local medicos to retire

TWO healthcare workers have retired after nearly a century of experience between them in the industry locally.

Dr John Richmond and senior nurse Joy Taylor have both contributed to the Ballarat community for many years in the healthcare sector.

Dr Richmond was a specialist physician in Ballarat for four decades and said he’s seen many changes in procedures kidney transplants.

“When I came here 40 years ago there were only five physicians and they worked across a range of things like cardiology, kidney disease, lung disease and looked after people with cancer,” he said.

“It meant a lot of patients travelled to Melbourne which included dialysis.

“I was trained as a kidney specialist and have done a lot of general medicine, so saw the need for us to establish a dialysis unit.”

Through his work as a kidney specialist, Dr Richmond said he’s has seen great changes in technology.

“The number of people on dialysis has changed dramatically as 40 years ago it was really only people we might transplant, whereas today the majority of people will never be transplanted because they are considered too old or have too many illnesses,” he said.

“Dialysis has changed as originally it was just machine-based filtering the blood but in the 1980s a new method became available which allows fluid to be inserted which allows people to dialyse at home.”

Ms Taylor started her career in London before working for 48 years at the Ballarat Base Hospital.

She has also seen significant change, witnessing the first endoscopies in Ballarat and progression in methods for caring for patients.

“When I first started, parents were admitted the day before surgery and they didn’t go home until they recovered,” said Ms Taylor.

“Whereas now they are admitted day of surgery and pretty much go home recover,”

Recently, Ms Taylor has been leading a trial involving surgical robotics and she said the technology was a brilliant way to finish her career.

“I was lucky enough in my last eight months or so to be a project lead for introducing a robot into the theatre so that was quite exciting,” she said.

Despite rarely crossing paths in their medial career, Dr Richmond and Ms Taylor are both longtime members of the Rotary Club of Ballarat West.

“I’ve seen Joy in the passage many times over my professional life, but she worked in the operating theatres and I’ve avoided them since 1973,” said Dr Richmond.

“About 30 years ago Rotary allowed women into the clubs and Joy was the first women to join our club.”

Ms Taylor said being a part of the club is a great way to contribute to the community and socialise.

“I was asked by an anaesthetist if I would like to join the club and I became the first female to join and the first female president as well,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity to give something back.”