A Go Fund Me page has been set up to assist the highly respected and much loved Professor Chris del Mar following his surfing accident in February.
The money raised will help with the cost of home modifications so the Bond University expert in evidence based medicine can be transferred home from the spinal rehabilitation unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.
Chris Del Mar is a hero of general practice internationally, brilliant in the EBM movement, a leader in GP research, and to top it all, a good amateur viola player.
Now, after a tragic accident, he needs our help.https://t.co/q9rtoblnlC— Dr Tim (@timsenior) June 24, 2019
“After spending over 3 months in intensive care in a Brisbane hospital, Chris has recently moved into the hospital’s spinal rehabilitation unit. Some of the priorities are to arrange home modifications and equipment, and make arrangements for the ongoing care that he’ll need, so that he can return home as soon as possible,” the appeal states.
“Chris’s equipment needs range from the mundane (e.g. hospital bed), to those which will enable him to participate in life and the community (e.g. powered wheelchair, modified vehicle, and various specialised communication and IT devices).”
However, according to the Go Fund Me appeal page, Professor Del Mar is not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) due to the 65-years age cut-off. He is also not eligible for other insurance coverage.
A GP who moved into research and academia, Professor Del Mar is internationally renowned for his contributions to evidence-based practice and medical education. He is Professor of Public Health at Bond University and a member of the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare.
He led the editorial team for Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections and was the principal investigator on a NHMRC funded-project to reduce antibiotic use in general practice.
Hi everyone- unlike the whole #Folau debacle, here is an important cause. Please help bring Chris home from Hospital https://t.co/JeekQ0FyU5 via @gofundme Prof Del Mar has given so much to healthcare #EBP perhaps we can find a way to give a little bit back? @cochranecollab
— Natasha Lannin (@NatashaLannin) June 23, 2019