Locum Location Review - Griffith

Locum Locations:

Griffith NSW.

Hospital Name:

Griffith Base Hospital NSW.

Logistics Driving:

• 6h10m drive from Sydney, NSW (574km).

• 4hr drive from Canberra, ACT (358km).

• 5hr drive from Melbourne, VIC (458km).

• Locums can claim mileage when driving a personal vehicle to and from their placement at GrBH.

They will be reimbursed at $0.34 per/km.

Flying:

Departing Sydney: Rex & QANTAS have regular direct flights from Sydney to Griffith (1hr 30min) or with a stopover in Narrandera (2hr 05min).

What is the team like?

There is one FACEM that is largely non-clinical and a group of GPs (General Practitioners) with emergency experience plus SMOs (Senior Medical Officers) for support and to give varying levels of helpful advice.

The RMOs (Resident Medical Officers) largely cover the day shifts with a Senior Emergency Registrar on overnight.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Bed numbers: 13 acute and 2 resuscitation beds

Shift times and staffing levels:

• Intern – 0800-1700

• RMOs – 0800-1630, 1300-2100, 1500-2300 & 1400-0000

• SRMOs – 1030-2130 & 2130-0730

• CMOs – 0800-1830 (in charge), 1300-2300 (in charge) & 2230-0830 (in charge)

• FACEM – 0800-1800

• FACEM or Senior CMO on call

Support provided: 24hr senior medical officer in charge, consultants, registrars, RMOs and nursing staff

Any other important shift information: 1400-0000 shift can include ward calls

Tell us about the setup of the hospital and support?

The Department are fairly specific about levels of experience and usually hire RMOs and SRMOs at PGY4+ level.

You can refer to a Consultant after hours and most of the specialties are in Wagga Wagga or in Sydney. ICU is managed by Medical Consultants and the Wards covered by ED after hours.

Any feedback on the accommodation and travel?

On site or within walking distance to the hospital.

Griffith is fairly small so there are a bunch of coffee shops nearby and woolies is a short 5 min walk.

The accommodation is mixed between shared houses for junior locums and sole units for senior locums/specialists.

Note: the share accommodation are single gender. Either 2 or 3 bedroom units.

Any locals inside info to share? Best swimming spots? Lookouts? Bike or walk trails?

Griffith Regional Aquatic Centre is a great outdoor pool.

Jacks Creek walking track has 3 scenic lookouts and a flowing gorge when it has rained.

Lots of surrounding wineries including Dr Bortoli Winery.

Town amenities? Shops, coffee tips?

Woolworths is a 5 minute walk from the hospital. There are a few brunch spots in town, including Coffee Society and Two Professors.

Restaurants, Shops, Coffee tips?

Reportedly the most multicultural town outside of the major cities in Australia. Historically Italian immigration, but also south Asian and pacific islands. As a result, there are great food options. Highlights were Zecca Italian dining, Limone dining, 99 spices. For top class pastry and coffee Bertoldos on the Main Street.

Would you go back? If yes, why?

Yes I would go back, it is a well supported emergency department, there is a good variety of work and it is an easy commute from Brisbane or Sydney.