Our very own Anna Blackwell caught up with one of our locums based in Armidale NSW to see how everything was going and get some inside info on the location and their locum experience.

Locum Location in Armidale:

How did you settle in? Any hot tips for new arrivals?

Settled in well without any issues.

Tip: Best to go to the department and get an early orientation to understand their systems.

Armidale does not have eMR, instead it has PACS system for discharge documents. The remaining patient documentation is on paper. They also have two separate programs with different logins to access pathology and imaging.

This made the process of working there a little challenging at the start but not too bad once you get the hang of it.

How was the travel, logistics and accommodation?

Comfort Inn Armidale was great, decently sized room with an en-suite and kitchen / pantry to allow you to make meals.

Travel-wise the area is lovely.

Armidale has lovely architecture and some decent cafes and museums to check out. The waterfalls nearby in New England high country (Wollombombi, Dangars, Ebor etc.) are incredible and if you're heading out from or towards Coffs harbour don't forget to drop by Dorrigo for equally spectacular views and Bellingen for a coffee!

Overall accommodation? 8/10

Overall travel experience? 8/10

What is the team like?

The team vibe was great. Lovely nurses and supportive doctors.

There is no FACEM on-site most of the time but there are senior CMOs. Nurses will not immediately do cannulas and bloods (like in some other departments) but for the most part they were fantastic and helpful.

Overall site experience? 7/10

And the setup? Services, facilities, other Specialist support?

There is 24 hour pathology, albeit slow in the evening, with X-ray and CT up till 6pm, but radiographers can be called in for urgent cases.

Any of the locals inside info? Best swimming spots / lookouts / bike or walk trails?

Within Armidale:

• New England Regional Art Museum
• Suumarez Homestead
• Booloominbah Historic House
• Armidale Bicentennial Arboretum
• Drummond Apex lookout
• Armidale Natural History Museum
• Railway Museum
• Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Cathedral

Just outside of Armidale:

• Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
• Wollombombi Falls
• Ebor Falls
• Dangars Falls
  
• Gara Gorge
• Point Lookout and Cathedral Rock
• Bellengin
• Urunga Boardwalk

Would you go back? If so why or why not? Would you recommend Armidale as a Locum Location?

I definitely recommend.

Do you have any shots of the area and your travels for future locum doctors in Armidale?

Check out other Locum Locations from our Australian Locum Doctors 👇🏻