A Word from the General Manager

Well, what a year it has been so far!  COVID is still with us and every time we think we are getting ahead of it, it rears its ugly head again.

Lots has been happening at AMC – we have all been practicing safe distancing, many working from home and the remnant in the office look like refugees from a 2^nd rate Western movie, with masks everywhere, making us look like we are about to rob the bank or the stagecoach!

To top it off, the pharmacy responsible for arranging dispenses of medication to the majority of AMC patients had to close suddenly in March and without warning. This left us and more importantly, our patients in a very difficult position. As many of you will appreciate, there was a major delay for thousands of people and we were inundated with calls, emails, text messages and even had a few patients arrive at our office in Belmore looking for assistance. We were simply overwhelmed. We have largely recovered and have sourced several new pharmacies to assist in ensuring that we do not have this problem again. Let me apologise once more to those who were affected during this very difficult time. Thank you to the many who persevered and who were so supportive in what was an unprecedented and frustrating 2 months from March through to mid-May.

During this time, we also lost our well-loved and much respected Dr David Woodhouse who had to retire due to ill health after more than 11 years as consulting doctor and medical adviser. David had almost 50 years in medical practice as a gynaecologist and obstetrician and the last decade or more was integral as part of the medical team at AMC. Dr Dalia Ubied also left the team to take up a position elsewhere in a field that she has been interested in and had been made an offer too good to refuse.

If you know any good doctors who are interested in women’s health with particular emphasis on menopause, who might like to work with us at AMC, we would love to hear from you.

Happier news on the birth of a first child, a son, to Annmarie and Samantha, a 2^nd child, a daughter. Both new mums are on our Clinical team and are presently on maternity leave. Many of you would have spoken with them over the years and we are looking forward to their return soon. Meanwhile, we congratulate them and send our love to them.

We hope that the next months of 2021 will not only see the world emerge from the despair of COVID but that we at AMC will be there for you for as long as you need us.

Keep Safe,

Ron Loftus

General Manager

Australian Menopause Centre