INTERPLAST Australia and New Zealand team will visit Tonga from 11 – 25 September 2010 to assist Tongan National Health Services to conduct specialist consultation clinics and perform plastic and reconstructive surgery services.

The team consists of:

Mr Martin Rees Surgeon
Mr Jesse Kenton-Smith Surgeon
Assoc Prof Peter Haertsch Surgeon
Dr Christopher Lowry Anaesthetist
Ms Wendy Cousipetcos Nurse
Ms Patricia McCristal Nurse

The AusAID funded Interplast team will conduct the consultation clinic on Monday 13 September at 9:00am at the Special Outpatients Clinic, Vaiola Central Hospital, Nuku’alofa. Plastic and reconstructive surgery consultation and operating will take place at the hospital from 13 – 24 September 2010.

The Australian Government funds approximately fifty surgical teams every year in the Pacific, with 4 being held in Tonga in 2010. The assistance, under AusAID's Pacific Islands Program, fills specific gaps in local medical services and provides on-the-job training to local medical staff.

This will be the 31st Interplast plastic and reconstructive surgery visit to Tonga since 1983.

Patients with conditions including; scarring from burns, hand surgery and tumours as well as other conditions that would benefit from treatment by the Interplast team, are urged to contact Dr. Saia Piukala (Surgical Unit) at the Vaiola Central Hospital. The clinic is by appointment only and must
be screened by the surgical team or private general practitioners.

Please be advised that Patients with common skin diseases or cosmetic conditions will be excluded from consultation.

For more information please contact the Vaiola Central Hospital; Dr Saia Piukala or Dr Toa Fakakovi ph: 23200. Australian High Commission, 01/09/10.