April 26, 2022

Locum Location - Noosa, QLD

Zoe shared with us her experience as a locum doctor in Noosa. She worked there for various shifts during those past months.

Noosa, as a town, is beautiful! Even before working there, it was one of my favourite places to visit in Queensland. If you like food, shopping, beach, nature, activities in general… then you will love Noosa!

The Hospital

The Emergency Department is essentially a public ED in a private hospital. The department consists of 1 resuscitation bay, 6 monitored ‘acute’ beds, and 1 procedure room. The hospital itself has inpatient medical, surgical, rehabilitation, CCU, and ICU beds.

The permanent medical staff in the ED are all very experienced staff grade or consultant-level doctors, who I found to always be approachable and friendly. There is a wide variety of presentations to the ED, both in terms of patient demographics and acuity, making it an exciting place to work. The Sunshine Coast University Hospital is roughly 50km away; the majority of transfers out are referred there.

Within hours, there is a lab onsite for routine pathology. Out of hours (after 11 pm weekdays and after 4 pm weekends), samples are taken to Buderim via courier – results can take several hours. Point-of-care (iStat) blood testing is available in the ED.

The radiology department is adjacent to the ED – X-ray, CT, and US are available. Out of hours, there is a radiographer and sonographer on call. From a professional point of view, it’s really interesting to work as a locum doctor in Noosa.

The Nature and Beach In Noosa

There are loads of beautiful beaches to choose from in and around Noosa – from the massive Main Beach just off Hastings Street, to the more secluded Cove Beach. Or even the nudie beach at Alexandria Bay.

Moreover, Noosa National Park is a fantastic walk along the coast. And, it’s great for spotting plenty of wildlife – koalas, birds, and whales. As you make your way from the boardwalk up to Hell’s Gate, there are beautiful bays along the way to stop for photos or to watch the surfers. If you have the time, definitely visit Noosa Everglades and definitely explore them by kayak!

Restaurants and Drinks

Too many great food places to mention them all. No matter what meal of the day or where on the casual-fancy scale you’re aiming for. So there will be somewhere that suits. First special mention to Noosa Boathouse for sunset drinks. Especially because of the flock of pelicans and sea birds that get fed on the river bank nearby shortly before sunset. Also, Sum Yung Guys has been Noosa’s top rated restaurant for a while but make sure to book well in advance if you plan on eating there.

Shopping

Hastings Street is the main shopping street. And it is a dream for anyone like me, who love a wee browse! If you also have good addresses to explore on Sunshine Beach road with various decoration and fashion shops.