Final entry for my Locum late again .. but it has had time to mature I guess.
I ask myself the same questions I did after Babinda.
Would I work at Gladstone again ? - yes, but as with my answer to the same question about Babinda, with my desire to vary my experiences in advance of rural GP relieving I plan to vary my near future locums and wont specifically seek out my next locum at Gladstone .. but maybe another there before I venture into GP relieving.
Two lessons learned ?
1) (Beware : unsubstantiated anecdote incoming) .. international medical graduates (IMGs) (what we used to call OTDs - overseas trained doctors - maybe the term OTD is not politically correct somehow) need support. The ones I met at Gladstone (with the exception of the one mentioned in my parting shot) are dedicated, and all that I met are competent but lacking confidence - perhaps rather fearful of not meeting the AMC (Australian Medical Council) standards for practice in Australia. I found one of the significant side benefits of working at Gladstone ED was to be able to mentor (for a while at least) some of these overseas trained doctors. I wish all the ones I met the best in their endeavors.
2) The standard of care in rural towns (well that is a broad sweeping statement given I am really talking in regard to my Gladstone experiences) is a little lacking, but not for the want of desire, personal dedication and skill of the medical, nursing, paramedical and allied health professionals working in Gladstone. They are a group of people to be proud of. So I guess its not "standard of care" as such ... its limited ability to provide the broader range of services really. There is a singular lack of the level of resource one comes to take for granted in the city .. yes accessible to Gladstone, 6hrs drive away, or an hour's flight away.
Pointers to others considering working at Gladstone Hospital.
1) Have no second thoughts ... do it.
2) Enjoy the surrounds of Gladstone .. yes, the city is perhaps more a place to live and work, rather than visit or tourist, but with your days off the wonders of the Central Queensland are accessible.
I look forward to posting again with my next locum, with some luck, good timing and planning around June/July this year. Until we meet again !
