Changing of the guard after 32 years of skin care in Bourke

Lisa Rankmore, Pat Canty, Mandy Rice, Peter Fredericksen, Fiona Rankmore and Robyn Collett. Photo: contributed

Story: Kristin Murdock and Ian Cole

After over three decades of travelling to Bourke to care for local patients, dermatologist Dr Peter Frederickson has made his final visit to the Bourke clinic, handing over to a specialist with her own strong connection to western NSW.

Dr Frederickson said that during his time in Bourke, he has treated generations of patients for skin cancers and inflammatory skin conditions, while seeing significant advances in treatment.

“Certainly, for issues like melanoma, the treatments are spectacularly better than they were 30 years ago,” he said.

What has changed less, however, is the challenge of accessing specialist care in the bush. Dr Frederickson said the Bourke population continued to have a high burden of skin disease, particularly among fair-skinned residents, and many patients’ requiring treatment still needed to travel. […]

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