Providing frontline care, supporting staff with nurse education and engaging local consumer groups is all in a day’s work for Clermont Multi-purpose Health Service nurse unit manager Garth Brewster-Webb.
He had been nursing at metro hospitals in emergency critical care for over a decade before deciding it was time for a new challenge and made the move to Clermont in 2020.
It turns out the rural role offered the variety and professional challenges he was looking for.
“The team at Clermont MPHS provide emergency, aged, acute, sub-acute and community care, along with outpatient and allied health services to the greater Clermont community,” Garth said.
“A typical day at the facility is always varied and provides its own challenges, however, these challenges and the diversity of the role are what I enjoy most about working in Clermont.”
Garth began his career with the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital which gave him a solid foundation in nursing but the unique aspects of working in rural facilities enticed him to make the move to Clermont.
“Small rural facilities are at the other end of the spectrum to large hospitals. Any and all kinds of patients may present so you need to be adaptable and skilled to provide all round patient care,” he said.
“Rural nursing requires you to work with greater autonomy and each day you are working in a multidisciplinary team where we aim to contextualise larger hospital practices to the rural environment.
“It’s more than a job, it is the opportunity to challenge yourself while becoming a member of close-knit community.”
As nurse unit manager, Garth’s role encompasses several elements that contribute to patient care and staff coordination.
“Each day is different – I may be providing frontline care, ensuring safety and quality systems, supporting and educating nurses, engaging consumers in the community, partnering with local service providers or developing support systems,” he said.
“Clermont’s rural location means we support patients who may need to travel distances and we regularly react to situations requiring immediate attention.”
Garth said Clermont has afforded a warm welcome and he feels fortunate to be part of such a supportive local community.
“Walking down the main street you always receive a smile or a friendly greeting,” he said.
“Clermont is a place where you provide a continuity of care and follow up on patients which is wonderful because you generally don’t get to experience that in a large hospital.
“It’s all about providing access to health care and improving health outcomes for our communities.”
