Cairns Private Hospital doctor Tom Wright tribute following death

UPDATE: Tributes have poured in for one of Cairns’ most experienced and popular doctors who recently passed away with his colleagues hailing his talents.

THE sudden death of one of Cairns’ most well-respected and experienced doctors has left the medical profession deeply shocked and “feeling at a loss”.

Long-serving obstetrician Dr Tom Wright of the Cairns Private Hospital died suddenly on Monday, aged 70, after decades of service to Far Northern families.

Dr Wright’s employer Ramsay Health Care released a statement paying its respects to the legendary obstetrician on Wednesday.

“It is with great sadness that we pay tribute to one of our long-serving Obstetricians, Dr Tom Wright, who passed away suddenly on Monday, February 28th.

“Dr Wright was an exceptionally committed, capable and loyal doctor having worked at Cairns Private Hospital for more than 30 years, following his father’s footsteps as an Obstetrician.

Cairns private Hospital in Cairns PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

“He was part of a small group of two-generation doctors in Cairns, and recently spoke about how he felt privileged to deliver babies in the 1990s who then grew up to have their own babies delivered by him as well.

“Our thoughts are with Tom’s wife Heike, his family and friends, colleagues, patients, and the many staff at Cairns Private Hospital who have worked with Tom over the past three decades.”

Distraught and speechless, one of Dr Wright’s closest colleagues Dr Natalie Kiesey-Calding said her mentor was an institution of the Cairns obstetrics field.

Dr Wright trained Dr Kiesey-Calding, before they both practised together at Cairns Hospital and then privately, before embarking on separate professional ventures about six years ago.

“He was very good at supporting his colleagues and he never made me feel inferior or like a junior,” Dr Kiesey-Calding said.

“He was a true old-school gentleman but also a very gifted doctor, he had all the skills.

“There’s a science to practising medicine, and an art, and he understood the art of medicine.”

Dr Kiesey-Calding said following the “unexpected death”, Dr Wright left behind his wife and two sons, who were still coming to terms with his passing.

Among the medical professionals saddened to hear of the news was Central Plaza Doctors’ Dr Phoebe Hong, who began her career in Australia under Dr Wright’s wing.

Dr Hong moved from New Zealand to Cairns in 2013 and said she couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.

Tributes have flowed for Dr Tom Wright. Pic Tom Lee

“He was easily the most experienced obstetrician so to receive his knowledge was wonderful,” she said.

“It’s fair to say he’s left a great legacy in Cairns, he’s delivered for generations of families.

“He was the most gentle person I ever met, very caring and always shared his knowledge.”

Dr Hong said the medical profession was “still processing” Dr Wright’s passing.

“I felt a bit lost really, losing a great teacher and mentor.”

Cairns pharmacist and national Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey paid tribute to Dr Wright’s professionalism.

“He had a great bedside manner, he was a bit quirky and had a great sense of humour, but he could stay calm in a stressful environment which is why I think he was so popular for so many couples,” Mr Twomey said.

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“He delivered both our kids and a lot of my nieces and nephews, so he meant a lot to the Twomey family.

“But I knew him has a professional as well, as one of our pharmacies sells a lot of fertility equipment.

“It’s just tragic, and a great shock to everyone.”

Labor Senator for Queensland Nita Green expressed her condolences for Dr Wright’s family and shared a touching story of her personal experience with the obstetrician.

“I met Dr Wright the day my wife and I discovered we had lost our first pregnancy. It takes a special kind of person to reassure a stranger in their most difficult moment; to make them see through the darkness and hope again,” Ms Green said.

“I feel privileged to have met him and for him to have played such an important role in (our) soon-to-be daughter’s life.

“My thoughts are with his family, colleagues, staff and the many Cairns families for whom Tom was such a special part of their journey to parenthood.

“Everywhere you went in the Cairns community you would meet someone who has been touched by Dr Wright’s gift of bringing life into the world.”

Just last year, Dr Wright along with paediatrician Dr Tim Warnock marked 30 years of working together and marked the occasion with a new book of photographs of some of the babies born in Cairns in their very first moments of life.

Dr Wright’s father was a also a doctor and the Trinity Bay High School graduate began his professional career in his hometown in 1990.

Originally published as Cairns Private Hospital doctor Tom Wright tribute following death