A step closer to securing medical services for Quirindi
27 April 2010
Hunter New England Health is pleased to announce it has appointed an experienced organisation to recruit doctors to work at Quirindi Community Hospital and the future HealthOne Quirindi facility.
HNE Health expects at least one new doctor will begin working at Quirindi Community Hospital, as early as August this year. Additional doctors will then be employed over time, according to need.
Medical Directions Australia (MDA) was appointed last week (April 23), following a national advertising campaign and a stringent evaluation process.
MDA will work in partnership with HNE Health to recruit and employ doctors, ensuring dependable, accessible and sustainable medical services for Quirindi community members into the long-term.
The company will:
- Ensure a doctor is available to provide 24 hour cover for Quirindi Community Hospital’s Emergency Department
- Ensure doctors are available to treat inpatients at Quirindi Community Hospital
- Over time provide up to three doctors to operate GP clinic(s). The clinic(s) will be based initially within the Quirindi Community Health building, before transitioning into the HealthOne Quirindi building once opened in 2011.
Any new doctors will work in cooperation Dr Sokiah Krishnan, who has provided high-quality GP services to the local community for many of years. The doctors will work with other HNE Health clinicians to provide a range of primary health services.
HNE Health Director, Operations Primary and Community Networks Scott McLachlan said the appointment of Medical Directions Australia was great news for the local community.
“MDA has a proven track record of successfully providing regional hospitals with reliable medical services, so we are very excited to have them on board to help attract doctors to the Quirindi region,” Mr McLachlan said.
“The company is working with HNE Health in other locations, including Tenterfield and Tomaree, and the arrangement in those towns has been working extremely well which is a great indicator of what’s ahead for Quirindi.
“The process of attracting doctors to rural areas is highly competitive, and we believe this new way of recruiting doctors will enable us to improve access to health services for the local community in an innovative way.
“Hunter New England Health values the support and interest it has received from community members during the recent tender process, as well as from Liverpool Plains Shire Council, the North West Slopes Division of GPs and the Rural Doctors Network,” Mr McLachlan said.
“We are keen to continue working closely with the local community and keep them up-to-date during coming months, as new doctors are employed and as construction on HealthOne Quirindi moves forward.”
Hunter New England Health is currently constructing HealthOne facility which will enable doctors, nursing and allied health staff to work closely together on the one site, adjacent to Quirindi Community Hospital.
Services at HealthOne Quirindi will focus on education, prevention, early diagnosis, better management of chronic conditions and early intervention services.
HealthOne Quirindi is due for completion in April 2011.
Contact: Carisa Green
Phone: 0428 106 183