REGIONAL health is where young doctor Chris Hardy had long hoped to start his medical career.
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Dr Hardy, a Ballarat High School graduate, is rapt to be back in his hometown setting out as a medical intern at Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital.
Studying medicine at Monash University, Dr Hardy said he had a taste of big metropolitan hospitals but had always been keen to get back to a regional hub.
The most beneficial thing is the hands-on experience...in rural and regional areas there are much greater opportunities to do that.
- Dr Chris Hardy, Ballarat Health Services intern
"The most beneficial thing is the hands-on experience...in rural and regional areas there are much greater opportunities to do that - I'm helping run a clinic here," Dr Hardy said.
"I just want to be useful and helpful, to feel I'm part of the team. I've been here (BHS) four weeks now and I already feel that."
The Victorian Government has pledged a $2.4 million boost in a bid to keep young doctors, nurses and midwives working in regional hospitals. Funding will allow for regional hospitals to offer future interns two-year contracts to undertake more training in the same community.
Intern Emma Spinks, who graduated from University of Notre Dame Australia in Ballarat, said Ballarat also had distance on its side, compared to regional New South Wales where she originated from. Dr Spinks said being close enough to Melbourne and close enough to small regional communities, where there might not be a doctor, offered flexibility and experience in training and working as a doctor.
Feeling the pinch in access to good medical care was what prompted Dr Spinks' career change.
"My husband and I were living in regional New South Wales and at the time I knew it was impossible to get medical care...I looked into ways I could help try and fix that problem," Dr Spinks said.
"...People in our community (Ballarat) can't always get in to see a general practitioner and that spills into our hospitals."
People in our community (Ballarat) can't always get in to see a general practitioner and that spills into our hospitals.
- Dr Emma Spinks, Ballarat Health Services intern
The government reiterated it was investing more funding to recruit and train more nurses, midwives and frontline workers. This includes a focus on improving the nurse and midwife to patient ratio.
About 30 interns started with Ballarat Health Services last month. Of last year's class, 19 have stayed on in Ballarat to further their training.
Dr Dan Wilson's passion for regional health earns national attention (CLICK on the image below to read more)
BHS general medicine head Edward Ritchie said investing in junior doctors for regional areas improved job security and opportunities for training in regional hospitals. Such regional opportunities were limited when Dr Ritchie, who also grew up in Ballarat, was in medical school and in starting his career.
Now, most speciality training is offered at BHS.
"You can get good training in Ballarat where we have a wide breadth of medical students and junior doctors," Dr Ritchie said. "...You can map out a pathway here and its easier for young doctors today to see that. While they're working as junior doctors, the Ballarat community appreciates and respects them as patients."
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