Locum Location - Lake Macquarie, NSW
Locum Location Review:
Lake Macquarie Private Hospitalļ»æ
We caught up with one of our favourite doctors, Dr Eisha, who recently had a placement at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital as a locum SRMO. She had fantastic things to say about the department and had a great time exploring the area!
Department Support & Team Structure
Lake Macquarie Private is an extremely easy ED to work in. The department is small: 5 beds, 1 resus bay, and an in/out room, and the team structure makes it very supportive for locum doctors.
- Mornings: You and a FACEM, sometimes an additional doctor.
- Around midday: Another 1–2 doctors arrive, increasing the support. This means you slot in seamlessly as a locum, with plenty of assistance available for clinical or admin questions.
Overall, it’s friendly, relaxed, and well-staffed relative to the size of the ED.
Specialist Availability & Imaging Access
As a private hospital, specialist availability varies depending on who is on-call privately that day.
Generally available:
- General Medicine
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Variable / inconsistent:
- General Surgery – sometimes no surgeon on call; surgical cases may need diversion.
- Orthopaedics – hit and miss depending on cover.
Referrals:
Referrals are made directly to the covering consultant. All consultants were described as approachable, helpful, and happy to accept cases or provide guidance. No difficult referrals encountered.
Imaging:
Standard private-hospital access, timely imaging, but occasionally dependent on on-site availability.
Presentation Numbers & Workload
The volume fluctuates a lot:
- Some days are very quiet, with patients being seen almost immediately upon arrival.
- On other days, there may be 10 patients waiting, which can feel busy due to the small team and private setting.
Despite being private, the patient flow can still create a brisk pace at times.
Department Setup
A compact, well-organised ED with enough space to function smoothly but small enough to feel manageable for locums. Easy to orient to.
Patient Profile
Surprisingly diverse for a private ED, much broader than expected.
- Very similar mix to a public ED.
- Very sick / high-acuity patients are diverted to other local hospitals, so the work is clinically interesting without being overwhelmingly acute.
- Good exposure for SRMOs and registrars, but lower intensity.
Documentation & Systems
- Clinical notes: Electronic (unique system; takes some time to get used to).
- Prescribing: Paper-based.
- Orientation: Admin/locum coordinator provides a detailed walkthrough before the first shift.
- Your first shift is usually rostered as an extra to allow time for system support and safe orientation.
Training & Induction
- Comprehensive IT and system training before starting.
- Plenty of staff present during initial shifts for computer or workflow questions.
Parking
Easy and free, no hassles.
Accommodation
Self-booked Airbnb works well, especially if staying near Newcastle Beach. The accommodation allowance is lower than average Airbnb costs, so expect to top up out of pocket.
Procedures & Expectations (SRMO / Registrar)
- Procedures are limited due to lower acuity, but supportive consultants encourage involvement when opportunities arise.
- No intubations needed during this locum’s time.
- Good learning environment with calm supervision.
Some opportunities for:
- Lumbar punctures
- Paracentesis
Local Tips: Food, Coffee & Things To Do
Beach / coffee:
- Newcastle Beach — great place to relax.
- The Beach Kiosk — best coffee/iced matcha.
Food favourites:
- Napoli Centrale – best pizza
- Arno Deli – best sandwiches
- Scottie’s – fish & chips + great vibes
Inside Information
- Extremely friendly department, easy to integrate as a locum.
- Not the most “exciting” place in terms of critical care (those patients are diverted), but otherwise a high-quality, low-stress locum experience.
- Choose accommodation near the beach if you can... big lifestyle perk!
Would you return?
Definitely! Highly recommended.
Great team, easy workflows, supportive consultants, and a straightforward mix of presentations. Ideal for locums wanting a pleasant, balanced shift with a good lifestyle outside of work.
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