New doctors ease the pain
WARWICK'S doctor drought may just have broken with three new doctors making a tree change to the area from the Gold Coast, effectively easing the doctor shortage that has plagued the region over the past few years.
Condamine Medical Centre vice-chairman Evan Ackermann last week welcomed Doctors Mili Djendjinovic, Jessica Pau and Bee Kho to the surgery's team.
He said the new recruits were a big asset to the surgery and the community as a whole and had already started seeing patients.
"It's no secret we have had it hard for the past few years but these new doctors will allow us to give people some choice," Dr Ackermann said.
"Waiting times will be reduced dramatically and people will be able to have a choice of which doctors they would like to see."
Dr Ackermann said the doctors brought a large amount of experience and knowledge to the surgery and "are a great bunch".
"These doctors are quite experienced and we are really very lucky to have them here," Dr Ackermann said.
Dr Djendjinovic has lived on the Gold Coast for the past 18 years, working predominantly in emergency medicine and intensive care and said she was looking forward to the change of pace the move to Warwick would bring.
"I grew up in Victoria, in a rural area, and have been waiting for my family situation to allow me to return to a rural area," Dr Djendjinovic said.
"It's very different to what I am used to and I'm looking forward to the variety the job will bring and seeing all sorts of things to broaden my experience."
Dr Pau had also been working in a hospital environment and said she and Dr Kho had applied for the positions after friend and fellow doctor James Lee recommended the surgery.
"James was here last year and he said there were great patients and everyone was really nice," she said.
Dr Pau got a taste of a rural lifestyle when she worked in Kingaroy for six months and she and Dr Kho said they were hoping to make their move to Warwick a permanent one.
"I am looking forward to getting to know families and extended generations and becoming a part of the community," Dr Kho said.
The doctors last week underwent on-the-job training to become familiar with the surgery's computer systems and are ready to see new and existing patients.
Story by Kerri Burns-Taylor - Warwick Daily News