Obstetrics
At Highlands Healthcare, we focus on improving the long-term health of our patients. We want the absolute best outcomes and experience for you and your family, and we recognise that pregnancy can be an exciting and anxiety-provoking time. We’re excited too! It’s okay and normal to feel that way. We strongly believe in patient choice and autonomy. So, we like to fully inform patients about options and risks and help guide you to a decision that respects your lived experience. Delivery can be particularly nerve-wracking, so we want to give you as much information as possible to best prepare you for the day.
Having a baby is one of life’s momentous occasions. Though it is often a natural process without any need for intervention, some medical issues for mum or bub can occur along the way and are best addressed to maximise the outcome. Modern medicine has enabled wonderful results to be achieved in this regard.
An obstetrician’s role is to comprehensively look after a pregnant woman before, during and after the birth. They are on-call for your pregnancy issues 24/7.
The first visit occurs shortly after the diagnosis of pregnancy when the condition, location and number of pregnancies is verified using ultrasound scanning. Once the pregnancy is established, visits tend to be monthly until the third trimester. Specialist ultrasound appointments are utilised for prenatal diagnosis and morphology studies.
Antenatal & Postnatal Care
The team at Highlands Healthcare look forward to providing you with supportive, collaborative, and safe ante- and postnatal care. To provide our patients with the most comprehensive care, Highlands Healthcare offers obstetrician and midwifery input for our patients throughout pregnancy and beyond. Antenatal visits give you time to discuss how you are feeling as your pregnancy progresses and a chance to check and order your routine and any additional investigations, as needed. In addition to addressing any of your concerns, we will examine Mum and Bub to ensure that things are progressing as expected and address anything unexpected. Antenatal visits also allow us to discuss what to expect as the pregnancy progresses and what to expect in labour. At Highlands Healthcare, we pride ourselves on giving you time to have all your concerns addressed. Both your physical and mental health are our highest priority. Postnatally, we like to take time to address both the physical and psychological aspects of your recovery.
Please feel free to ask any questions at both antenatal and postnatal visits- we are here for you to feel well-supported!
Gynaecology
At Highlands Healthcare, we focus on improving the long-term health of our patients. We want the absolute best for you and your family. We want you to live your best life and get past your gynaecological concerns. We feel it is vital for you to know that underlying causes for gynaecological problems can be varied and arise from any of the structures in the pelvis. Unfortunately, due to the sometimes-multi-factorial, complex nature of gynaecological problems, many people experience delayed and or suboptimal diagnosis and treatment. Sadly, this can lead to frustration, distrust, and disengagement with the medical system. We feel it is important for you to know that we believe in your problem and want you to get better. We look forward to getting the opportunity to listen to your concerns. We will work with you to do what we can to target and treat your underlying condition.
At Highlands Healthcare, we want you to know that after discussing your history and examining you, we will undertake a process that attempts to determine the cause or causes of your concern and treat that condition appropriately.
Issues we commonly deal with:
- Contraception – Oral or Implants (OCP, Depo Provera, Implanon, Mirena)
- Abnormal pap smears (Colposcopy)
- Ovarian cysts
- Fertility and infertility discussions
- Endometriosis
- Period Problems – too heavy (menorrhagia) or too painful (dysmenorrhoea)
- Fibroids
- Prolapse of the uterus and vaginal walls
- Pelvic pain
- Menopause – symptoms and how to deal with them
- Vulval rashes
- Urinary symptoms – difficulty emptying, leaking, recurrent urinary tract infections
Physiotherapy
At Highlands Healthcare, we understand the unique physical challenges women face throughout different stages of life, from adolescence to motherhood, menopause, and beyond. Our women’s physiotherapy services are designed to support and enhance your physical health, helping you to move with confidence, strength, and comfort.
We offer personalised care tailored to meet the individual needs of each woman. Whether you are recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, managing chronic pelvic pain, or navigating changes related to menopause, Emily is dedicated to helping you regain your strength and improve your quality of life.
Our Services Include:
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic floor Physiotherapy helps women who are experiencing bladder/bowel dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, painful intercourse and other symptoms of pelvic pain. Our Physiotherapist, Emily, works with women across all life stages to optimise their pelvic floor function, offering personalised guidance for symptom management.
Pre- and Post-Natal Physiotherapy
Emily supports women throughout their pregnancy, helping her patients optimise their strength and mobility, while treating any pain that might arise throughout.
Preparation for childbirth can significantly improve your delivery experience and post-partum recovery. Our pelvic floor education and assessment services are designed to help you understand how to optimise your pelvic floor function in preparation for delivery. We provide tailored exercises and techniques to help you manage labour more effectively, reduce the risk of tearing or trauma, and promote faster recovery post-delivery. This education helps women feel empowered, confident, and physically prepared for childbirth.
Post-delivery, Physiotherapy is important to help optimise recovery of your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. We are passionate about helping women to regain function and achieve their goals after birth.
Menopause Support
During and after menopause women can start experiencing pelvic floor issues such as incontinence and prolapse symptoms. Emily helps women navigate these changes to their body and provides tailored a management plan for each woman, which can include pelvic floor muscle training, exercise guidelines, lifestyle advice and strategies for symptom management.
Rehabilitation After Surgery
Whether you have undergone a caesarean section, hysterectomy, or other gynecological surgeries, our Physiotherapist works closely with you to create a rehabilitation plan that promotes healing and restores function.
Pelvic Pain Management
Emily can also help patient’s navigating chronic pelvic pain due to conditions such as Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome). These conditions are often associated with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, leading to secondary symptoms like painful intercourse and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Emily combines manual therapy, targeted exercises, and practical advice to help alleviate pain and improve overall well-being.
ENT, Head & Neck
Head and Neck Oncology
Cancer surgery is a key interest of Sam’s. Being an effective surgeon for patients with these complex conditions entails accompanying them on their journey, understanding the life changing nature of their diagnosis and working as part of a strong team. Sam’s involvement in the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Multidisciplinary Team facilitates discussion of complex cases with experts in pathology, radiology and oncology to ensure the best possible outcomes.
In addition to having extensive exposure to Head and Neck surgery during his training, Sam was selected to undertake an International Fellowship in Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology in Alberta, Canada. This was a high volume centre covering all of Southern Alberta, servicing a population of more than 2 million people.
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Caring for paediatric patients is one of Sam’s great passions. Being able to give a child a much stronger start to life by curing deafness or obstructive sleep apnoea was what initially attracted Sam to ENT Surgery.
Sam has developed extensive skills in this area through his training at Westmead Children’s Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital and John Hunter Children’s Hospital in NSW. Sam also provided Head and Neck Surgical Oncology services to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Canada.
Ear Surgery
Chronic ear disease is a major problem in Australia. In particular, our First Nations peoples suffer a large burden of disease. Sam has a strong interest in surgery for chronic ear disease, and has undertaken remote outreach work in Northern Australia and rural New South Wales.
After training under many of the most respected ear surgeons in NSW, Sam hopes to bring his skills and expertise to patients outside of the major centres. In particular, Sam has developed an interest in endoscopic (key hole) ear surgery through his training at Royal North Shore Hospital, Westmead Children’s Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
