Albany practice best in the State

An Albany general practice was recognised as the best training practice in the State at an awards ceremony held in Perth last Friday.

Southern Regional Medical Group was given the WA General Practice Education and Training 2012 Award to acknowledge the contribution they have made to training young doctors.

The practice has run for 47 years and trained more than 200 post-graduate doctors and 500 medical student trainee doctors, many of whom still work in regional WA and seven at Southern Regional.

Practice partner and GP supervisor Pieter de Klerk said the award was a great result for the regional community.

“We have had outstanding doctors in the last few years most of whom want to stay in Albany or other rural areas,” he said.

Managing partner David Mildenhall said the award recognised the groundwork they had put in.

“This includes building training facilities at the practice, such as a mini lecture theatre, videoconferencing and interactive whiteboard,” he said. “Special obstetric and anaesthetic education programs have been developed.”

Dr Mildenhall said the practice had also joined forces with Denmark Medical Centre to assist in building a new practice in Denmark which will be opened next month.

Denmark Medical Centre GP Hector Faulkner, who trained with Southern Regional in 1985, said for the first time undergraduate and postgraduate doctors would be trained in Denmark.

“It’s fantastic for the region to have (Southern Regional’s) experience, we benefit from their experience in training,” he said.

“Denmark, like other small rural towns, has trouble attracting young doctors.

“From next year, GP registrars will be able to experience two different styles of medical practice in Albany and Denmark.”

Dr Faulkner said the facility would help with recruiting doctors to Denmark and reduce waiting time for residents.