MILDURA Health Private Hospital is doing its bit to address Sunraysia's GP shortage by attracting a full-time doctor to see patients at Mildura Health Private Consulting for the first time.
Dr Tom Gleeson will start working from Mildura Health Private Hospital's consulting rooms next week which chief executive Marcus Guthrie said was a big win for the region.
"We understand that the GP workforce is under stress at the moment and certainly the volume of patients GPs are seeing is significant," Mr Guthrie said.
"So it is really in response to that.
"We are bringing Dr Gleeson in to assist the other GPs in the community and, ultimately, the patients in the region."
Dr Gleeson is is no stranger to rural Australia.
After completing his medical training in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, he spent 11 years working in St George, Queensland.
"I think regional areas are crying out for more doctors and proceduralists as well," he said.
"I have been for the past 11 years doing what we call rural generalism.
"It is basically a GP with advanced skills and a wider scope of practice – kind of like a jack-of-all-trades, I suppose."
He brings a long list of skills to the region with training in areas including anaesthetics, obstetrics and endoscopy.
"I have utilised all of those skills in a small country town for the last 11 years and I decided it was time for a bit of a change and a great opportunity to come down here," Dr Gleeson said.
"I saw the hospital advertisement and I saw that I could be doing all of the things I was used to doing, but in a bigger place."
Mr Guthrie said having another highly qualified GP would a be huge advantage to Sunraysia patients.
"He has the ability to admit patients into Mildura Health Private Hospital and look after those admitted patients during their episode of care," he said.
"As well as that, Dr Gleeson is able to see his patients in theatre to perform endoscopies if required."
Dr Gleeson will carry an outpatient load in the hospital's consulting rooms, which will be open to the community shortly.
He will begin seeing patients from next Wednesday and the community can inquire directly to Mildura Health Private Consulting.
"It's another experienced medical practitioner in the region, which is a huge plus," Mr Guthrie said.
