Logan Hospital staff were joined by international guest speakers at the recent Bariatric Care Symposium.
During the all-day event, 45 passionate healthcare professionals engaged in candid discussions about challenging topics, aiming to educate and improve practices.
Keynote speaker and Bariatric Consultant Tracey Carr delivered an emotive presentation titled “Living Life at 200kg,” sharing her personal hopes for the future of bariatric care.
“I’d love for people to start seeing us as ordinary human beings who need their assistance,” Tracey said. “We understand that our size can add challenges to your work, but with the right equipment and training, you should have the tools to remove any concerns.”
Dr Caz Hales followed with a keynote on navigating the obesity care landscape, emphasising health service delivery improvements that could enhance compassionate care for plus-sized patients.
The keynote discussions were complemented by breakout sessions that further educated staff on topics such as bariatric equipment, weight bias, and stigma.
Logan’s Nurse Navigator for Bariatric Care, Lorraine Treanor, declared the symposium a huge success, with attendees thoroughly engaged throughout the day.
“The enthusiasm and commitment shown by everyone demonstrated our collective passion for providing better care to our patients with bariatric care needs,” Lorraine said.
Acting Assistant Director of Nursing Emily Smith commended Lorraine’s effort in coordinating the symposium.
“Lorraine and the Logan Hospital Bariatric Committee successfully created a platform for staff and consumers to safely share their experiences,” she said.
“Through understanding weight bias and embracing compassionate language, we can ultimately create more inclusive and accessible healthcare for patients living with obesity.”