Ramsay Newsroom

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Order of Australia recipient, Dr Thornton flies himself in his own aircraft to Tamworth every Friday to operate and consult at Tamara Private Hospital. Every second Tuesday, he also visits Inverell and Narrabri Hospitals, bringing a specialist anaesthetist from Sydney so patients who need a general anaesthetic can have their surgery closer to home.

Tamara Private Hospital CEO Debra Maslen said Dr Thornton had truly gone above and beyond to ensure people in regional New South Wales could continue accessing specialist care.

"It's not every day you hear about a surgeon learning to fly so they can keep caring for their patients, but that's exactly what Dr Thornton did. For 40 years, our community has benefited from his extraordinary commitment, and we're incredibly fortunate to have someone so dedicated to caring for people across our region," Ms Maslen said.

"When the drive became too much, most people would have stepped back. Dr Thornton learnt to fly instead. That tells you everything you need to know about his determination to keep caring for patients in our region."

"On behalf of everyone at Tamara Private Hospital and the wider north-west, I simply want to say thank you. Dr Thornton has cared for generations of patients across our region, and we are incredibly grateful that he continues to give so much of his time, expertise and compassion to our community," she said.

Dr Thornton said the decision to learn to fly wasn't initially about aviation, it was about his patients. But now, he loves his flying and loves helping his patients. 

“At the end of the day, it's all about making sure people can access the care they need without unnecessary travel. If I can help make that happen and have the pleasure of flying, it is a win for everyone,” he said. 

While celebrating 40 years of caring for patients across regional New South Wales, Dr Thornton said retirement isn't on the horizon.

“It's a privilege to care for patients and work alongside such dedicated teams in Tamworth, Inverell and Narrabri. As long as I am able to keep making the journey and making a difference, I have no plans to stop.”