Coronavirus NSW: Doctor sacrificing family time to flatten the COVID curve
A doctor who selflessly leaves her family every day to head out to work in a global pandemic is the latest frontline hero honoured by The Daily Telegraph.
NSW Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Showing up every morning to her clinic in Rhodes during the coronavirus pandemic requires Dr Sumeena Qidwai to sacrifice time with her elderly parents and her young children.
But the GP and telehealth expert says her job is more important now than ever before.
“There are certainly challenges being a doctor at this time, especially if you have children and elderly parents. It’s hard being away from them,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“But at the same time, we have an important job to do and I think now more than ever our patients need our ongoing care.”
MORE NEWS
Can we swim at the beach? No one’s shore
Barnaby slams ‘angry’ ex-PM for unleashing on old colleagues
Hotels, free parking for medicos fighting virus
Dr Qidwai has been working full-time during the pandemic but saving lives has come at the cost of sacrificing time with her young children.
“My nine year old has stayed with my parents for the school holidays. And although I miss her a great deal, I thought this was best because of the restrictions in place and the fact that I work full time,” she said.
“My 12 year old will do online learning from home when school resumes next week. It’s a juggle but you manage.”
The GP is a supporter of telehealth and has been working as a clinical adviser to telehealth company Medinet Australia. But even though she has the choice to work from home, Dr
Qidwai goes to the clinic four days a week.
“As a GP, we see people from all walks of life, the elderly, pregnant women, patients who are immunosuppressed and generally all patients who need preventive health care and it’s vital we keep medical services running to care for these patients,” she said.
“I absolutely love my job and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Despite the personal risks and demanding hours, Dr Qidwai said she is happy to be on the frontline.
“As doctors we have an important role to play in this pandemic and moving forward. There are some personal sacrifices, but it will be worth it,” she said.
“Telehealth has made a lot of our medical consultations easier, and I applaud the government for making that happen so fast.”
Dr Qidwai is one many NSW frontline heroes The Daily Telegraph is campaigning to honour as they put their own health safety second to that of our most vulnerable citizens.