Junior doctors leave Narrogin with rural experience and Wheatbelt memories after 10-week rotation

Junior doctors Darren Tan, Casey Brown and Michelle Bediako completed a 10-week rotation at Narrogin District Hospital on Friday, the third of five cohorts to undertake a placement this year. “Being fresh out of med school, there are certain rotations that we have to do before we decide on our specialisation,” Dr Tan said. “I’ve primarily been working in ED and what is different from the major metro hospitals is that everybody here knows each other. “You can see what everyone is doing and things get done very fast, it’s more efficient in a way and that’s been a really nice working experience.” Dr Brown spent this rotation on the wards where he worked alongside NDH’s departing senior medical officer Dr Peter Maguire. “I’ve been doing the things that take a bit more time than in ED, packaging people up and making sure that they are fully looked after before they go home or are transferred,” he said. “Being Dr Maguire’s junior for the past 10 weeks has been a wonderful experience, he’s an amazing doctor and an all-round good bloke.” As part of the community residency program, Dr Bediako has been working four days a week in ED and one day in general practice at John Parry Medical Centre. “It’s a challenge as there’s a bit more time pressure but it’s been good because it’s helped me think about how my discharge letters from ED can communicate effectively to the GP,” she said. “It helps in terms of improving continuity of care, working in general practice again has made me think a bit more about ensuring that I hand over good documentation.” Like many junior and student doctors that undertake placements in Narrogin, Dr Bediako decided to try her hand at squash while on rotation. “I was absolutely horrendous on the first day but two weeks ago I was able to win a set,” she said. “I still lost the match but that was cool.” The junior doctors said they enjoyed the Wheatbelt lifestyle during their stay and were made to feel welcome at NDH and by the community. “I’d like to thank the people here, they’ve been absolutely lovely, especially at the general practice,” Dr Bediako said. “It really means a lot when people are lovely to you, when people care and remember that you are a human being as well.”