Local residents have had a GP boost with Mildura Health Private Consulting (MHPC) introducing a new Resident Medical Practitioner, Dr Anna Hoy, to the growing list of GPs now practicing at the clinic.
Under the supervision of Dr Donald Hartley and Dr Tom Gleeson, Dr Anna Hoy is on a six-month funded placement as part of the Victorian Rural Generalist Program. In November 2020, MHPC became an accredited training organisation to host Registrars on a training program with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Murray City Country Coast GP Training (MCCC). The training program supports Doctors in training to become rural generalist GPs in regional Victoria. Dr Tom Gleeson said that rural locations, such as Mildura, rely on highly skilled GPs to manage and support the local healthcare system. This program is aimed at ensuring rural and remote areas of Victoria have the services of a well-trained rural generalist GP, with a broad range of skills and training qualifications. “The benefit of rural generalist medicine is that these GPs have a broad knowledge of skills, both procedural and non-procedural, management of patients in a hospital, experience in emergency departments and greater networking opportunities”. “The benefit for the community will be that they will have access to more GPs with sound skills and broad knowledge” Dr Gleeson said. Dr Hoy, originally from Rockhampton in Queensland, moved to Mildura in 2019 where she completed her internship at Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH). Now, Dr Hoy has settled in Mildura where she and her partner are currently building a home and is involved in the local arts community, participating in Grease and the upcoming production of Mamma Mia. Dr Hoy said, “Being offered the opportunity to take part in the rural generalist program offers variety and new directions, and will be a great way to set up my career.” “This term will allow me to be exposed to a broad range of surgical specialties, including plastic surgery, orthopaedics and gynaecology.” She is also planning on undertaking a certificate of women’s health, a special interest for her, and next year will undertake training to become a GP anaesthetist. “The other benefits include networking with health professionals around the region. I am planning trips in the future to Swan Hill, Robinvale and Ouyen to assist in my understanding of rural health issues and to build valuable connections. Dr Jandree (Jaz) Fransch, who started at MHPC in January this year as part of the rural generalist training, said that she is enjoying the variety of the role, rather than just being isolated to an office space. “Since moving to Mildura 18 months ago, I have enjoyed the training program and the variety of work. I am very settled in Mildura now. We have purchased a home and my partner is soon to open a new business locally,” said Dr Fransch. Local GP of over 50 years, Dr Hartley said offering the rural generalist program at MHPC will be a sought-after training program to attract talent to the local region.
Mildura Health Private Hospital (MHPH) is investing in delivering even greater care to the local community with a 12-million-dollar upgrade of the facility now underway that is expected to help attract more specialists to our region.
MHPH is creating two dedicated endoscopy theatres from the existing theatre footprint and building three new operating theatres. To compliment the operating theatre design, both stage 1 and 2 recovery areas will have increased bed numbers with an open plan layout for improved clinical oversight. The works will entail construction of a new Central Sterilization Store Department aligned with changing regulations. The project also improves the hospital’s bulk store capacity, staff change rooms and staff tearoom. Along with this, there will be a new 44 space car park and pedestrian crossing for MHPH staff.
MHPH Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Guthrie said “The hospital has completed detailed modelling of current and future patient activity based on regional population growth and an ageing population. This detailed strategic planning shows us that there is a need for an increased medical workforce along with an expansion of the operating theatre complex. This is on top of an increasing number of patient’s using the hospital’s services up 6% on the previous financial years admissions as a result of the hospital attracting more specialists to the region allowing patients to avoid needing to travel for their treatment.”
This upgrade is timely with the increase of procedures being performed at MHPH. Recent data from the last financial year has highlighted that the number of hip replacements performed at the hospital have doubled from the previous financial year. One of the reasons for this is the result of successful surgical recruitment to the area giving local residents greater choice and range of services that can be performed locally.
Local resident, Phil Kettle recently had a hip replacement at MHPH with Associate Professor (AP) Rickman who is a visiting specialist from Adelaide.
“I was referred to AP Rickman from my GP Dr. Gleeson. From the moment I spoke with AP Rickman I had a feeling of confidence that I was going to be looked after properly. Prior to meeting AP Rickman, I did some research, and I was very pleased to see a specialist with his credentials visit Mildura.
“Within a few days I was out of hospital, and I was able to walk 200 meters, then 1 km the day following, and I felt great, said Mr. Kettle.
“The overall experience from start to finish was exceptional. The treatment and care at MHPH was faultless and the care and expertise provided by AP Rickman prior and after the procedure was great. The personal follow up from AP Rickman’s room and MHPH has been fantastic.
Mr. Kettle added “People from the region say that when you need something major done you need to go to Adelaide or Melbourne to get better treatment. But I can say that I do not believe I could have received better treatment out of town, than what I receive here, in Mildura.
Mr. Guthrie said, “More work needs to be done in recruiting specialists to the area, however with the investment in new perioperative services department design, it will make recruitment of specialists less problematic. We are also working closely with the local public hospital in doing joint recruitment of specialists to the area, in particular Physicians. This will allow for an easier transfer of private patients out of public hospital, freeing up beds for public patients. A win win for the whole community.
“Further announcements will also be made soon regarding the Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre which is expected to start building by the end of this year”, added Mr Guthrie.