Bass Coast Health (BCH) is proud to be contributing to the training of young doctors while shoring up the organisation’s future workforce ahead of the opening of the Wonthaggi Hospital Expansion.
BCH recently received glowing feedback and accreditation from the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria. The council’s final feedback reflected the health service’s program of education, practical work and supportive environment.
The council accredits health services as suitable training venues for junior doctors, provides education and training, and administers a placement program that also supports rural areas in the provision of staff.
“To receive such feedback and the accreditation is a fantastic achievement for our health service and reflects the effort we go to to provide our Junior Medical Staff with a health service where they wish to work and where all staff model the organisation’s values,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Renee Kelsall said.
“Many of our visiting staff have expressed how much they enjoyed their experience and didn’t want to leave once they had completed their placements. That’s exactly what we aim for as we hope that while on placement, our junior staff will see the diversity of opportunities available to them at Bass Coast Health and wish to further their careers with us.”
The success of the Junior Medical Staff program reflects the commitment of the Medical Workforce team and broader medical workforce at BCH to making the new staff feel so welcome.
The Medical Workforce team is responsible for sourcing medical staff to service the organisation’s operations, namely the provision of medical staff for the Acute and Sub-Acute wards and the Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital.
The team also arranges accommodation for the visiting staff in properties rented by BCH.
This Medical Workforce team supports Junior Medical Staff by focusing on educational opportunities, a rewarding work experience and their wellbeing. The young staff are also supported by Dr Kelsall, the Director of Clinical Training, Clinical Director of Emergency Medicine Dr Dan Crompton, Supervisor of Intern Training Chris Garwood and several other clinical supervisors.
Dr Brett Larner was a surgical Hospital Medical Officer (HMO) on rotation with BCH for 13 weeks from the Austin Hospital earlier this year. He enjoyed his rotation at BCH so much that he is returning as a casual Junior Medical Officer, supporting vacancies across BCH.
“We are excited to see him return as one of our ongoing staff members. It is a testament to our Junior Medical Staff program at Bass Coast Health that we are now seeing previous rotational HMOs and Interns returning as casual staff members,” Dr Kelsall said.