Pallidotomy

About this Item
Speakers - McBride Mr Grant
Business - Private Members Statements

PALLIDOTOMY

Mr McBRIDE (The Entrance) [6.51]: Tonight I take the opportunity to relate the story of a recent medical miracle that changed the life of my good friend Bronco Whyte, aged 52 years - a wonderful character. He was assistant secretary of the Seamen's Union of Australia, a wharfie, a seaman and a professional football player. He has lived on the central coast for 23 years. Seven years ago he became afflicted by Parkinson's disease. Since then I have watched him steadily decay. He was an incredibly strong, tough character, a typical Balmain boy. His great love was the Balmain Tigers. When he moved to the central coast he became very much associated with The Entrance Leagues Club, which is also known as the Tigers and plays in the same colours.

He has been a coach there, and a manager and a trainer. Such is his commitment to his community that as he became increasingly disabled he would clean the floors and sweep the dressing room. In the past 12 months it took every ounce of his courage just to get around. He used to walk from home to help us in the office with the mail. If he did not walk he could not walk. Every day he had to start moving with a shuffle, taking slightly larger steps until he could walk. He continued doing whatever he could in supporting the community.

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Two years ago he set up the Bateau Bay Parkinson's syndrome support group. It meets at the Tuggerah Lakes Memorial Club at 1.30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month. Patron of the group is George Whittingstall, who is also chairman of the Tuggerah Lakes club.

Two weeks ago Bronco had an operation known as a pallidotomy. I did not realise what was involved in the operation or the courage required by patients until the recent Quantum program. I formed the impression that the operation was at the forefront of medical science and being carried out only in other countries. However, three weeks ago my friend Bronco had the operation. The television program showed that holes are drilled in the patient's skull and electrodes are inserted into the brain under local anaesthetic: the patient is awake during the operation. Each electrode is inserted to the required point in the brain determined by previous X-rays. The electrodes are then heated to destroy small parts of the brain.

In the television program the patient was encouraged to move during the operation to ensure that the electrodes were properly positioned. I had not realised Bronco's courage. He said that he was worried about the operation and that the chances of success were about 20 per cent. But his disabilities were so severe that he was prepared to give the operation a go. His quality of life was continually deteriorating to the point at which he could not control his shaking and was taking about 20 pills a day.

Five days after the operation when I opened the door of my office and saw him I thought I was in another land. Given the trouble it took to get him into hospital, I was surprised that he was up and around so soon. Special mention must be made of Dr Denis Crimmins, a Gosford neurologist, and the Royal North Shore Hospital, where the operation was carried out. I have been informed that the operation on Bronco was possibly the most successful they have had. I commend the hospital and the doctor and acknowledge the courage of my good friend. The doctors say it is a dangerous operation and, having seen it on television, I know that it is a dangerous operation. It is wonderful that services such as this are available in our health system to ordinary working people who in systems other than Medicare would not be able to have the operation. It is a tribute to our medical system and to Labor governments.

Private members' statements noted.

House adjourned at 6.56 p.m.

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