THE Swan Hill community is set to benefit from the arrival of a new doctor in town.
In a first-of-its-kind relationship, Swan Hill District Health has partnered with Mallee District Aboriginal Services to place a doctor who will share time between the two health services on a two-week rotation.
Dr Ahmed Hosni is a general practitioner with an extensive background in intensive care, drugs and alcohol, and Indigenous services.
SHDH Associate Professor Rex Prahbu told The Guardian Dr Hosni wanted to “have a taste” of academic medicine and that, combined with the flexibility and range in work, is what attracted him to come to Swan Hill.
“We made it flexible for him, but also flexible for our growth needs, so it is a win-win for all of us,” Prof Prahbu said.
MDAS chief executive Darlene Thomas said she was delighted to welcome Dr Hosni to the area.
She said the arrangement would allow Dr Hosni to have a greater understanding of the diversity of the community and broaden his experience in health service provision.
“From a MDAS perspective, Dr Hosni offers our community quality, consistent health care, in a culturally safe space, while also strengthening our relationship with the Swan Hill District Hospital,” she said.
“Securing doctors and other health professionals to work in regional and rural areas has become increasingly challenging in recent years and like so many organisations, MDAS has felt the impact of this issue.
“This collaboration ensures our community’s health needs are met and also supports the career development of new doctors.”
Difficulty in securing a long-term doctor meant it had been hard for patients to have confidence in care.
“There is only so much consistency in care when you have a fly in, fly out service, because they are only able to see you there and then not follow you up again,” Prof Prahbu said.
“But now, having a regular doctor, not only do you have confidence in that person, but that person then follows up your care, it’s a connection with your family, but it’s also a connection to SHDH that they always have a doctor that they go to.
“I think it is bridging that gap that was existent in the region.”
Prof Prahbu was also hoping to be able to give training doctors the opportunity to work under Dr Hosni’s care in the next few months, to help further encourage doctors into the region.
“If training doctors graduate here and then live here with us for two or three years, we have noticed the longer they stay with us for their training, they end up building houses and staying in the community and engaging really well with the community,” Prof Prahbu said.
“That has been a success back at SHDH, and we want to now replicate it for MDAS and even smaller services like Kerang and places like that where we can reach out.
“We have been actively working, partnering together with MDAS, SHDH, headspace, Kerang District Health and Northern District Community Health, to double up a pathway that doctors can train here for as long as possible and then stick around.”
