Locum Location - Port Hedland, WA

By Dr Annie, a Blugibbon Locum Doctor.

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

The hospitality shown to me by the clinical and administrative staff was incredible. The rostering was fair, and the workplace was very collegial. The ED work is really interesting, and there is plenty of support from inpatient teams. I came for a locum in 2013 and have been here for 8 years. The accommodation is not the greatest, but the friendly team and workplace atmosphere more the compensate for the lack of luxury. 

Hot tips - come the day before your shift, it's a long way to get here. Winter is amazing.

How was the travel, logistics and accommodation?

Hedland is a long way from anywhere; unless coming from Perth, it is two flights, and you often need to put a day aside to travel.

 
You will need to have a Working with Children check - if from outside WA, this will need to be organised on arrival.

Where possible, the hospital can pay for half a day for orientation / time to get the Working with Children check completed.

Accommodation is basic, but the air-conditioner works, and the shower water pressure is good. You can get a nice view of the ocean in some apartments.

It is not luxury, and I have had much better, but the perks of working at Hedland more than compensate for the average accommodation.

What is the team like?

Amazing. Everybody is so friendly, easy to get along with, and it is a supportive working environment.

 
No bed block, no push back admitting patients to the ward, plenty of support from inpatient teams 24 / 7 when you need it in ED. We all socialise together and have a laugh at work.

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

It is a regional referral centre for the Pilbara, a young town with very little geriatric medicine.

 
There is a significant proportion of Indigenous medicine and medical care to the mining industry and to the local community (mainly young families, quite a lot of interesting paediatric presentations).

There is very little trauma, some psychiatry, drug and alcohol, but there is no inpatient psychiatry unit, but we do have a PLN in ED and a community psychiatrist to assess patients.

 
24 / 7, there is a Consultant Surgeon, Physician, FANZCA Anaesthetist, Anaesthetics DMO, Consultant Paediatrician, and an Obstetrician, as well as sub-speciality DMO support (Anaesthetics and O&G).

 
All teams have a Medical Registrar, Senior Paediatric Registrar and Junior Doctors.

 
There is even a Public Health Physician onsite, and Radiology has X-ray, CT, and ultrasound, an Istat in ED, and a full pathology lab / blood bank.

 
For a rural site, it is a very well-supported service.

Best town amenities, shops, cafes? Share with us your favourites.

Any local inside information we should know about? Best swimming spots, looks or trails?

There are two swimming pools in town and multiple gyms if that is your thing (I have never been to the gym in 8 years, but people rate it).

 
There are good food trucks most nights on "Dreamers Corner".

Would you go back? If so, why? Would you recommend the location?