April 18, 2022

LOCUM DOCTOR IN KEMPSEY

By our Locum doctor in Kempsey: Dr Lakshmi.


WHAT IS THE TEAM LIKE?

The ED (Emergency Department) staff are excellent friendly folks in Kempsey Hospital. They are very used to locums being around and they treat you well. Overall it is a great team environment. You are made to feel welcome pretty quickly and it’s easy to settle in.
There are plenty of teaching and opportunities to learn when time permits. The workload tends to be lighter than Port Macquarie around the corner, with a good patient mix and lots of interesting pathologies floating around.


TELL US ABOUT THE SETUP OF THE HOSPITAL AND SUPPORT?

There is an ED plus one medical ward in two parts and one close observation unit with telemetry (think HDU-esque with generally lower acuity patients).
Most specialist services are at Port Macquarie around 40 minutes away, so there are lots of transfers out once you have worked up patients.

WHAT DOES THE TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION LOOK LIKE FOR A LOCUM DOCTOR IN KEMPSEY?


Accommodation is at a local motel, smack bang in the middle of the town so shops and amenities are an easy walk away. Accommodation is basic but comfortable with air conditioning and friendly motel staff that endlessly replace your milk and biscuits and do daily housekeeping.
The flight is one hour to Port Macquarie, then a hire car for a 40 minute drive to Kempsey. Alternatively you can drive four to five hours up from Sydney.

TOWN AMENITIES? SHOPS, COFFEE TIPS FOR A LOCUM DOCTOR IN KEMPSEY?


I cannot say I was around long enough this time to find the excellent coffee but I am there are good ones around. Woolworths and McDonalds (for some cheeky late night chippies) are right next door to your accommodation, with Coles and Aldi a short walk away.

ANY OF THE LOCALS INSIDE INFO? BEST SWIMMING SPOTS? LOOKOUTS? BIKE/WALK TRAILS?


Big Tip – get outta town and check out Crescent Head for some gorgeous beaches and lookouts (great surf too for the surfers out there) and Hat Head Reserve for some spectacular bush walks. A little further away is South West Rocks that has incredible dive sites.


WOULD YOU GO BACK TO WORKING AS A LOCUM DOCTOR IN KEMPSEY?


Absolutely! So much on offer from a work and life perspective. It is a beautiful part of the world.
Interested in a locum placement in Kempsey. Just contact us on 02 8960 6445 or  hello@blugibbon.com  and visit our blog for more  locum doctor locations .

Recent Posts

August 1, 2025
Life as a Doctor Aboard the DLV2000 – by Dr. Mark When most people picture a locum medical job, they think dusty country hospitals or tropical island clinics. But for Dr. Mark, locuming has meant something entirely different this time... working 600km north of Broome on a giant floating construction site in the Timor Sea. Enter the DLV2000: part ship, part building site, part offshore medical outpost. It's a beast of a vessel, 182 metres long, 39 metres wide, with its own helideck, heavy-lift cranes, industrial workers in hi-vis, and one solo doctor on board for 28 days at a time. That doctor just happens to be Mark. From emergency med training to inspecting the ship’s galley with the captain (yes, really), Mark gives us a candid look into what life’s really like offshore. The routine, the downtime, the food (spoiler: it’s very good), and the kind of clinical presentations you’ll see when you’re hundreds of kilometres from land with nothing but ocean around you. Curious what it takes to be a ship’s doctor? Wondering if it’s worth the pay and adventure? Or just want to see what “remote medicine” truly means? Mark’s got you covered. Let’s dive in...
July 23, 2025
You don’t need to jet off to Japan or Europe to experience world-class skiing. Australia’s Snowy Mountains offer fresh powder, epic scenery... and for locum doctors, the chance to combine flexible work with a winter getaway. At Blugibbon, we’ve placed hundreds of doctors in the Southern Highlands and ACT region. With great access to Perisher and Thredbo via Canberra, many of our locums are discovering a whole new way to work, earn, and explore. If you’re considering a stint in emergency medicine, rural GP or general locum work this winter, here’s your insider’s guide, local tips included. Base Yourself in Canberra, Escape to the Slopes Canberra is fast becoming a favourite among doctors who want the best of both worlds, an easy-to-navigate capital city with high-quality hospital placements, and a straight-shot route into the mountains for your days off.  From Canberra, you’re just a 2–2.5 hour drive to the Snowy Mountains region, including: Perisher – Australia’s largest ski resort Thredbo – For longer runs and lively après Crackenback – A charming mountain village that’s a great base if you want to explore both
By Alison Hainsworth July 15, 2025
A Rural GP Review of Derby Community Health Service & Hospital
By Alison Hainsworth July 14, 2025
Esperance Locum Review: Smooth arrival, stunning beaches & a dream ED gig. Dr Heidi’s recap. 
By Tim Admin April 22, 2025
Bairnsdale ED: A Junior Reg's Rural Revelation (5/5 Stars!) Your Next Must-Do Placement
By Tim Admin April 22, 2025
Discover Italian Delights in New South Wales: A Taste of Italy in Griffith