Latest news with #Katherine
ABC News
4 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Cataract surgery blitz for Indigenous patients restores sight for hunting
In the operating theatre at Katherine Hospital, the team moves in silent unison. Scrub nurse Peter Mitchell anticipates which tool the surgeon will need next, as he carefully makes a small incision in a patient's eye. "Being in theatre in this situation, it's a really beautiful feeling — a real sense of flow and understanding," he says. But these are tricky cases. The patient on the table has a dense cataract that has gone untreated for some time. "Very, very seldom do you see a cataract as hard as this down south, but they're relatively common in the sorts of areas we're in now," Mr Mitchell says. Patients have been flown and driven into Katherine from remote communities across the Big Rivers region of the Northern Territory for an intensive week of surgeries, conducted by the Indigenous and Remote Eye Service. Over two days, cataracts will be removed from 27 eyes, in some cases bringing patients back from the brink of blindness. One of the patients is Mildred Hector, a Bilinarra woman from Nitjpurru, formerly known as Pigeon Hole. She had been struggling with hunting and fishing, with her vision in one eye obscured by cloudy cataracts. "When I go hunting … nice eye I can look, other one no good," she says. Her friends had noticed she sometimes had trouble seeing them too. Now, after her surgery, she's able to read some of the smallest letters on the eye test chart. And she's looking forward to putting her new vision to the test back home. "It's good. We'll go fishing … get barramundi, long ones, and turtles." The eye doctors say while patients in Sydney and Melbourne will sometimes joke that they can now see their wrinkles more clearly, it's common for Indigenous patients in the Top End to talk about things like hunting. "It's always exciting to see the patients smiling when we remove the patch over the eye," surgeon Susith Kulasekara says. "There are so many ways it can improve the patient's quality of life. Often driving, the patients say … and caring for their family." Director of primary health care in the Big Rivers region, Antony King, says cataract surgeries are "immediately rewarding" for patients and staff at the hospital. "It's not something that's seen often," he says. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness for Indigenous adults and are responsible for a sizeable chunk of the eye health gap. As the clouding of the lens in the eye progresses gradually, often affecting both eyes, many remote patients don't realise how bad their vision has become until they get a visit from a travelling optometrist. And then there are all the challenges of traversing hundreds of kilometres for a surgery, on poor-quality roads that often close during the wet season. Health workforce data shows 1,004 ophthalmologists practising in Australia as of 2023, with only seven of those in the vast Northern Territory. The Indigenous and Remote Eye Service, known as IRIS, is a federally funded program bringing eye surgeons to the outback to tackle the backlog of cases. "The distribution of the clinicians that are needed to deliver these services has contracted in Australia … over a number of decades," Tim Gallagher, chief executive of Brisbane-based Vanguard Health, which delivers the program, says. Mr Gallagher says patients will sometimes be on the waiting list for two to three years before they can be seen. Getting dozens of remote residents to the hospital on one day is an enormous logistical challenge, especially when some people don't use mobile phones and move from place to place. The program has succeeded by performing more than 800 cataract surgeries since mid-2023. It will now attempt to complete a further 800 during the next two years. Dr Kulasekara says word spreads about how straightforward and painless the procedure is when patients return to their community. "They become ambassadors," he says. While most of the IRIS patients are Aboriginal, some are not, such as 83-year-old Katherine resident Peter Wilson. He says the transformation of his vision after having cataracts removed from both eyes has been astonishing. "I just couldn't believe how bright everything was, the colours," he says. Mr Wilson says he does most of the vacuuming around his house but was increasingly missing spots. "I'll be told by my wife, 'That's still a bit dirty, can't you see that?'" he laughs. "So that is the sort of thing that I think will make a difference. I won't miss bits." As fellow patient Mildred Hector leaves to catch her plane back to her community of Nitjpurru, she grabs one of the eye doctors for a parting hug. "Thank you my dear, enjoy your vision," the doctor says.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Katherine Ryan faces fresh neighbour battle after husband Bobby's dream garden is ruined over the bank holiday
KATHERINE Ryan has opened up on drama with her new neighbour after her husband Bobby Kootstra's dream garden was left ruined. The comedienne, 41 - who has a background in urban planning - bought her swanky London mansion back in 2019. 6 Katherine Ryan has revealed her garden horror after her husband's outdoor space was left ruined Credit: PA 6 The comedienne and spouse Bobby Kootstra live in a London mansion Credit: PA 6 Yet she told how she was left with a huge tree in her garden during the Bank Holiday weekend Credit: Instagram/@kathbum She previously welcomed her third child during a home water birth at her pad in the English capital yet, despite the happy memories, issues with a host of neighbours have caused niggles. We previously reported how the stand-up had complained to the council in 2022 after her neighbours built a balcony overlooking her swimming pool. Now, Katherine has told how a different male neighbour on the other side of the fence caused issues over the recent Bank Holiday weekend. In her podcast, the Canadian described her outdoor space as "a beautiful garden that my husband takes such good pride in." Yet detailing the "big drama" to come, she told how their new neighbour had informed them he would be doing some gardening work ahead of their family trip to Costco. Her eldest daughter Violet, 15, stayed at home yet rung her parent to tell her "there is a giant tree in our garden." In the frantic call she told her: "The neighbours are chopping down trees, does Bobby want to see a photo?" Katherine then tells her: "I show Bobby the photo, a giant tree has fallen over and through our fence and is in the garden. "You can see many other trees were cut at the tree line." Katherine Ryan says she's planning £174k facelift at 41 as she reveals exactly when she'll get it done She told how it was a "big change" to their landscape and added: "Those trees have been around a long time, as someone with a planning background we are in a conservation area." She then reverted back to explaining her spouse's reaction, telling her Katherine's Telling Everybody Everything listeners: "Now we have got an entire tree in our f**king garden and Bobby is having a meltdown in the Costco. "Not angry just looking really sad, then he got quiet. I had to take the children away from the trolley." She then told how he had a chat with the neighbour when they got home, and arranged to have some more surveys done before any more trees were chopped down. Katherine added: "He loves nature and the garden and the shade those trees provided "He just takes a lot of pride in his garden "I don't think Bobby would chop down anything without telling a neighbour. "My concern is I have small children and dogs, if a giant tree is fell in our garden there are safe ways to do that." She added of her partner: "It just ruined the day, it's like his sports team had lost." The pair entered into a civil partnership in Denmark in 2019. She shares son Fred, three, and daughter Fenna, two, with her spouse - as well as Violet from a previous relationship - yet has spoken of her desire for a fourth child. 6 Katherine bought the property in 2019 Credit: UKTV 6 Her eldest daughter Violet, 15, broke the news of the tree in their garden - which had been felled by a new neighbour Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Katherine Ryan faces fresh neighbour battle after husband Bobby's dream garden is ruined over the bank holiday
KATHERINE Ryan has opened up on drama with her new neighbour after her husband Bobby Kootstra's dream garden was left ruined. The comedienne, 41 - who has a background in urban planning - bought Advertisement 6 Katherine Ryan has revealed her garden horror after her husband's outdoor space was left ruined Credit: PA 6 The comedienne and spouse Bobby Kootstra live in a London mansion Credit: PA 6 Yet she told how she was left with a huge tree in her garden during the Bank Holiday weekend Credit: Instagram/@kathbum She previously welcomed her third child during We previously reported how the stand-up had complained to the council in 2022 after her Now, In her podcast, the Canadian described her outdoor space as "a beautiful garden that my husband takes such good pride in." Advertisement read more katherine ryan Yet detailing the "big drama" to come, she told how their new neighbour had informed them he would be doing some gardening work ahead of their family trip to Costco. Her eldest daughter Violet, 15, stayed at home yet rung her parent to tell her "there is a giant tree in our garden." In the frantic call she told her: "The neighbours are chopping down trees, does Bobby want to see a photo?" Katherine then tells her: "I show Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Exclusive Breaking "You can see many other trees were cut at the tree line." Katherine Ryan says she's planning £174k facelift at 41 as she reveals exactly when she'll get it done She told how it was a "big change" to their landscape and added: "Those trees have been around a long time, as someone with a planning background we are in a conservation area." She then reverted back to explaining her spouse's reaction, telling her Katherine's Telling Everybody Everything listeners: "Now we have got an entire tree in our f**king garden and Bobby is having a meltdown in the Costco. "Not angry just looking really sad, then he got quiet. I had to take the children away from the trolley." Advertisement She then told how he had a chat with the neighbour when they got home, and arranged to have some more surveys done before any more trees were chopped down. Katherine added: "He loves nature and the garden and the shade those trees provided "He just takes a lot of pride in his garden "I don't think Bobby would chop down anything without telling a neighbour. Advertisement "My concern is I have small children and dogs, if a giant tree is fell in our garden there are safe ways to do that." She added of her partner: "It just ruined the day, it's like his sports team had lost." The pair entered into a civil partnership in Denmark in 2019. She shares son Fred, three, and daughter Fenna, two, with her spouse - as well as Violet from a previous relationship - yet has spoken of her desire for a fourth child. Advertisement 6 Katherine bought the property in 2019 Credit: UKTV 6 Her eldest daughter Violet, 15, broke the news of the tree in their garden - which had been felled by a new neighbour Credit: PA 6 The family have had issues with another neighbour building a balcony overlooking their home Credit: Instagram/@kathbum
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New mum Sciver-Brunt was set to miss Windies series
England's Nat Sciver-Brunt was set to miss the ongoing West Indies series on maternity leave before being made captain, says her wife Katherine. Sciver-Brunt, 32, was named captain in April, a month after her son, Theo, who was carried by former England bowler Katherine, was born. Advertisement "Nat was entitled to four months' maternity leave, not being the birth mother," Katherine Sciver-Brunt told BBC Test Match Special. "She took three weeks of that because England wanted her back for this series. "That was a huge sacrifice because those first eight weeks are so hard. "No-one would usually go back after three weeks, and Nat was pre-arranged to not play in this tournament and come back for the India series [which starts on 28 June]." Theo was with Sciver-Brunt during the T20 series which concluded on Monday and the first one-day international on Friday in Derby, where Katherine was working as a commentator for the BBC. Advertisement The matches were England's first under the all-rounder and new coach Charlotte Edwards, who were appointed after Heather Knight and Jon Lewis were sacked amid the fallout from last winter's Ashes defeat. Katherine travelled alongside England while pregnant throughout the winter but remained at home during the Women's Premier League in February and March. Had she gone into labour while Nat was at the tournament in India, her wife would not have made it home in time for the birth. Nat is the first mother to play for England since Arran Brindle, who played her last international in 2014. Advertisement "There were talks of a stand-in captain coming in for this series and that was a hard question for England," Katherine Sciver-Brunt said. "But ultimately Lottie [Edwards] wanted Nat and I couldn't deny her that opportunity towards the back end of her career. "If I was unhappy or wasn't sure, Nat would not have done it. She is selfless in that way and that is why she makes such a good captain." Sciver-Brunt's comments come after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced an update to its maternity policy on Friday. Previously England players were guaranteed their full salary for the first 13 weeks post-childbirth and a percentage thereafter but they will now receive 12 months' fully paid leave, plus an automatic contract extension and support with childcare and breastfeeding facilities. Advertisement County players will get six months' paid maternity leave plus the contract extension. Nat had egg freezing treatment last summer and said she would like to carry a baby after her cricket career. "When you talk about giving birth, it takes more than a year to get your body back into fitness and revert back to what you were," Katherine said. "You have worked so hard as a female to get to that point in your career and then you have to question stepping back and having to juggle starting a family. "Even deciding to extract and freeze your eggs, there is time that has to be taken out for that. Advertisement "If you are an exceptional athlete you often have a long career ahead of you, but not if you want to start a family. "Normalising this conversation and to inspiring people that it can be done, there needs to be more of that and I think it will happen."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Man from UNCLE and NCIS star left £100,000 in his will
Man from UNCLE and NCIS star left £100,000 in his will The documents have shown who inherited the star's fortune David McCallum (Jam Press) The Man from U.N.C.L.E star David McCallum left nearly £100,000 when he died - all to his wife - his will has shown. The British actor became a star by playing a secret agent in the 1960s spy drama. He also appeared alongside Steve McQueen in war movie The Great Escape. McCallum died aged 90 on 25 September, 2023. More recently the Scottish-born star who lived in New York became known to a younger audience for his long-running role as a medical examiner in TV show NCIS. Now documents show his estate in England and Wales was worth £97,307 when he died. The value of his British estate was left to his wife Katherine who was also its administrator. His will was made in 2010 was ratified by the Nassau County Surrogate's court, New York. He had five children, from two different relationships. Three from his first marriage to Jill Ireland - Valentine, Paul and adopted son Jason. Jason passed away from a drug overdose after taking a combination of painkillers and other muscle relaxants in 1989. He also had two children when he married second wife Katherine Carpenter - son Peter and daughter Sophie. His will shows that he stipulated if his wife Katherine died before him his estate was to be left to Peter and Sophie. Article continues below If Katherine predeceased him the will also made provision for Paul and Valentine - his sons with Jill Ireland - who would each get $100,000. The actor had a long career starring in TV series Colditz, The Invisible Man and Sapphire & Steel. But he was probably best known for his role as mysterious Soviet agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations before the series ended in 1968.
