Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lauded the medical professionals at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney as "heroes" for their extraordinary response to the terror attack at Bondi Beach last Sunday night.
Medical Staff Rush In From Across NSW
Speaking after meeting the medical team on Wednesday, Albanese revealed that staff who were not even scheduled to work had rushed to the hospital upon hearing of the crisis. Some travelled significant distances, including from the Central Coast, to offer their assistance.
"They saved lives," the Prime Minister stated emphatically. He described their reaction to the traumatic event as being carried out "with professionalism, with compassion and with the best of Australian values."
Unprecedented Surgical Response Saves Lives
The scale of the medical mobilisation was staggering. While a typical Sunday evening would see only enough staff to operate a single theatre, the hospital managed to fully staff and run eight theatres concurrently in the wake of the attack.
The efficiency of the response was life-saving. Albanese highlighted that at one point, patients were on the operating table a mere 12 minutes after arriving at the emergency department. The attack ultimately claimed the lives of 15 innocent people and injured 40 others.
"Today was an opportunity for myself and the Governor General to say thank you on behalf of Australians," Albanese said, acknowledging the collective effort of doctors, surgeons, nurses, pathologists, radiologists, and all support staff.
Community Support and National Healing
The Prime Minister also turned his praise to the broader community response, noting that 50,000 people have registered to donate blood since the tragedy. He urged Australians to continue donating in the coming weeks, noting that up to 100 donations can be required for a single surgery and that donations have a short shelf life.
Albanese acknowledged the profound impact of the attack, describing it as "an incredibly traumatic time for members of the Australian Jewish community" that has shaken the nation. He vowed that authorities would be given whatever powers are necessary to hold those responsible to account for this act of terror and anti-Semitism.
The Prime Minister referenced a meeting hosted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn with rabbis and Jewish community leaders, where he spoke with grieving family members. Stressing unity, he invoked the message of Hanukkah, saying, "Australia will come through this. Hannukah is a festival of the victory of light over darkness."
As the community begins the long process of recovery, 22 patients remain in care across several Sydney hospitals for injuries sustained during the Bondi attack. Support is also being provided to the medical staff themselves, with psychologists working to help them process the traumatic events they witnessed and responded to with such courage.
