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Long-time cardiologist calls it a day

Caitlyn WattsPilbara News
Cardiologist Nigel Sinclair who has services the Pilbara for many years is retiring.
Camera IconCardiologist Nigel Sinclair who has services the Pilbara for many years is retiring.

A heart specialist who spent decades treating patients in the Pilbara has announced his retirement.

Cardiologist Nigel Sinclair has been travelling to the Pilbara for 30 years to offer locals medical treatment instead of them needing to travel to Perth for their heart concerns.

Dr Sinclair, pictured, previously serviced Hedland and Karratha but in recent years focused mainly on Karratha. He has also been visiting patients at the Roebourne Regional Prison and Mawarn-karra Health Service in Roebourne.

“That saves a lot of people coming here, especially for the prison service, I think it’s been quite good,” he said.

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“Before, they had to have a truck and two wardens and the prisoner was shackled in the waiting room, so it was quite difficult. Now, I can go in and see several patients and it’s all quite easy.”

Dr Sinclair said it was important for people living in regional towns to have access to specialist medical services.

“I think it’s a lot easier for people, rather than having to fly down to Perth all the time,” he said. “When I first came up, that’s exactly what was happening. Now, with us coming up, you potentially don’t have that.

“I bring a technician up with me and we can do a lot of the tests that you would do in Perth. The whole process is speeded up.

“You develop a relationship with people and you feel that you’ve got to provide a service and that’s why I’ve been very keen to make sure that somebody else is coming up and can keep that going.”

Dr Sinclair said while there had been some challenges during his time visiting the Pilbara, particularly when patients did not turn up to their appointments, he enjoyed servicing the region and had seen many changes over the years.

“It’s been an excellent time. In many ways, I will regret it but I think the time has come to move along,” he said.

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