Champion of inclusive care for patients with disabilities joins WGDS team

Windsor Gardens Day Surgery in Adelaide is proud to welcome dentist and former Young South Australian of the Year, Dr Trudy Lin, to its team of surgeons. Dr Lin is one of only three specialists in special needs dentistry in South Australia and has over a decade of experience caring for people with disability, complex medical conditions and dental phobia.

She has long been an advocate for equal access to healthcare in a safe and supportive environment, including patients with unique needs such as autism and dementia. The challenges of their treatment can deter clinics from offering these vital services, which is where Dr Lin’s specialised dental clinic comes in.

Partly funded by the South Australian Government, the Extra Mile Dental clinic provides autism-friendly treatment with the option of general anaesthetic and in-home care. The recent launch of the clinic’s dentistry-under-anaesthesia services at Windsor Gardens Day Surgery was attended by South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, and Assistant Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke, and featured in this ABC News article.

‘This marks a pioneering effort for South Australia,’ Dr Lin says. ‘It is also unique in Australia to launch a private specialist service with not only dental care at a clinic, but also under general anaesthetic and providing the full scope of dental services through home visits.’ She is able to offer options for dental care under happy gas, intravenous sedation and general anaesthesia at Windsor Gardens Day Surgery.

The facility’s general manager, Gideon Sinclair, says Dr Lin’s expertise and dedication align perfectly with its commitment to delivering exceptional patient care. ‘The care that she provides is simply inspirational,’ says Mr Sinclair. ‘There are significant challenges when providing care to special needs patients, which unfortunately can present barriers when seeking urgent medical help. By working closely with Dr Lin, we have been able to break down these barriers in our day surgery and offer her patients access to safe and compassionate treatment under anaesthesia.

‘Working in healthcare, you hope and trust that you are making a difference. Being able to help facilitate such an important service is truly rewarding and a testament to our incredible staff and specialist nursing team. To know that we have played just a small part in helping improve these patients’ wellbeing is so rewarding and what enthuses and energises us to do it all over again. Our partnership with Dr Lin reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity and innovation in healthcare where patients with disabilities are the winners.’

Learn more about Dr Lin and her clinic

Learn more about the services at Windsor Gardens Day Surgery

Image 1: General manager Gideon Sinclair (R) and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas (L)

Image 2: Official ribbon cutting – Emily Bourke, MLC Assistant Minister for Autism, Dr Trudy Lin and Premier Peter Malinauskas (L-R)