Patient-first care in Sydney
Dr Rajni Lal is a leader in evidence-based geriatric care, specialising in perioperative medicine. Based at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney, she is the first geriatrician in the NSW public health system to be employed by surgical and anaesthetic teams. Dr Lal is establishing a unique perioperative service, including Shared Decision-Making (SDM) clinics, to improve care for older patients undergoing surgery.
She was awarded the Young Researcher Award in Shared Decision-Making, highlighting her expertise in patient-centred care. With over a decade of clinical experience, Dr Lal holds a Master’s in Public Health, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), and completed a Clinical Fellowship in Perioperative Care for Older People undergoing Surgery (POPS) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK. Her expertise supports surgical teams in delivering comprehensive, integrated care for frail and complex patients.
Dr Lal is passionate about providing individualised, compassionate care, empowering patients to make informed decisions through Shared Decision-Making. She advocates for tailored healthcare solutions that prioritise each patient’s unique needs and circumstances, challenging the ‘one size fits all’ approach.
As a representative of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), Dr Lal contributes to national perioperative care committees. She is also actively involved in Agency for Clinical Innovation working groups, driving meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.
Dr Rajni Lal has developed the SDM Navigator – an online tool designed to support shared decision-making in healthcare.
When healthcare decisions are made together through meaningful conversation, care becomes more personalised, more equitable and more aligned with what matters most to the person.
Shared decision-making (SDM) is a process where patients and healthcare professionals work together to make healthcare decisions. It combines and understanding of what matters most to the person receiving care and the best available medical evidence.
Whether you're considering cancer treatment, surgery, medicines, heart procedures, dialysis, rehabilitation, aged care, or another healthcare decision, shared decision-making helps patients and clinicians make informed healthcare decisions together.
Every person brings something unique to a healthcare decision – their goals, values, culture, life circumstances and preferences, and the right decision isn't always the same for everyone.
