Our SURGICAL Team
Helen Ashworth
Anaesthetist
Dr Helen Ashworth is a Senior Consultant Anaesthetist with over 19 years experience in anaesthesia. She initially trained in London at St Thomas’ Hospital then moved to Sydney where she continued training at Westmead and Royal North Shore Hospitals. She is both a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland and a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Currently she holds positions at Royal North Shore Hospital, the Mater and North Shore Private Hospitals. At Royal North Shore Hospital she is divides her time between clinical work and management of the Operating Theatres.
Bethen Sutton
Anaesthetist
Dr Bethen Sutton graduated from University of Sydney. She completed her anaesthetic training at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and in the United Kingdom, doing her fellowship at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital specialising in neuro-anaesthesia. She has over 10 years’ experience in neurovascular anaesthesia and has a special interest in clinical neurophysiology and medical education.
KAREN Fogarty
Surgical Assistant
Karen is an experienced Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant (PNSA), who has been working in the Australian health sector for many years.
Karen has competed a masters of nursing degree and a masters of Advanced Health Practice (PNSA) and is accredited and assists at private hospitals in Sydney.
Karen is a dedicated surgical assistant with a real passion for caring for her patients.
Post-Surgical Team
The acute post surgical team is a vital part of our service. Their team consists of specially trained nurses familiar with breast surgery, physios and social workers. They facilitate care at home after discharge from hospital with daily visits, ensuring continuity of care between patients and the hospital, specialists and general practitioners in the immediate postoperative period. This enables timely discharge from hospital and ongoing postoperative care and support.
Our team liaises with a wide range of specialists. These include medical Oncology services at the new NCI at St Leonards and Frenchs Forrest, at the Mater within the private system and at the Northern Cancer Centre at Royal North Shore and Manly Hospital in the public system. We also liaise with other multidisciplinary groups if some aspect of care is easier to coordinate in a different location such as the SAN, Gosford or regional areas. Genesis Radiation Oncology located at the Mater and Macquarie Hospitals and Royal North Shore Hospital Radiation Oncology are our closest radiation facilities. At each of these sites breast specific specialists are involved.
Breast Care Nurses
There are a number of breast care nurses that work closely with us both at the Mater, North Shore Private, Royal North Shore Hospital and on the Northern Beaches. All have had considerable experience in oncology nursing and taken on active roles within the breast care nurses association over the years. These include Clair John and Michiko at the Mater, and McGrath nurses Catrina Ross at North Shore Private and Royal North Shore Hospital, and Elaine Arnold on the Northern Beaches.
They provide exceptional care, understanding and knowledge in this role. They are involved in coordinating educational sessions and community groups and been actively involved in research. All have some training in lymphoedema.