Mackay Base Hospital is anticipating the return of obstetrics and gynaecology specialist trainees in 2024.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has advised the health service that trainees in their third or fourth year of Basic training are now going to be able to rotate through Mackay Base Hospital.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Charles Pain said the health service was delighted to hear trainees would return.
Mackay Base Hospital has not had accredited trainees since June 2021 and was given a list of actions to improve staffing, support for trainees and workplace culture.
“The College provided 21 conditions to meet, and they are happy with our significant progress towards meeting these,” Dr Pain said.
“Most of their conditions have already been met with the remainder listed as To Be Confirmed once the trainees are in place,” he said.
Dr Pain said the College was also happy with progress made to recruit senior staff in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
“We have submitted regular progress reports to the College advising of our implementation of their recommendations and they have commended us for the marked improvement they have seen.
“We will welcome two more staff specialists in August and December, giving us seven Senior Medical Officers in Obstetrics and Gynaecology,” he said.
Mackay has recently become part of a new regional training hub with Townsville and Cairns to support training O&G specialists.
Mackay will have two, third or fourth year trainees, with Townsville and Cairns providing training for all year levels.
“This is important from a recruitment and retention perspective – if doctors can complete all of their speciality training in north Queensland, we hope they will choose to continue working here and this will help contribute to the sustainability of services,” he said.
The College will visit Mackay in late 2024 for a Reaccreditation Review Visit.
“I would like to thank staff in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the broader Women’s Health Unit for their hard work to achieve re-accreditation. It has not been an easy time but I am confident that under the leadership of Acting Clinical Director, Dr Leigh Grant, we will continue to go from strength to strength.”
