Locum Location Doctor Reviews OFSHORE

Locum GP Emergency Work on Norfolk Island, Pacific Ocean: What Doctors Should Know Before They Go

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...

Locum Locations – Pitcairn Island It is not often you can claim to have worked on one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth. However, if you ask several of our Blugibbon locum doctors over the past 8 years, you will find them proudly saying yes! Dr Jack Dasculu spent couple of years as a locum doctor on Pitcairn Island. In recent times we have had the fantastic Dr Jack , General Practitioner, become a regular fixture here and he kindly offered to summarise his experiences for our community.

Recently one of our adventurous Blugibbon locums, headed off to work for one of our clients on a large offshore construction vessel as a ship doctor. He kindly journaled about the experience and shared his notes with us, so we can let you know more about this unique experience (and perhaps you may head off to a similar assignment through us soon?). GENERAL TOP TIPS Generally, day-to-day work is very similar and structured. Meal times are essentially fixed, with breakfast served from 5 am and you will be pleased to hear the food is amazing! Accommodation takes the form of a cabin; they are okay and manageable, but be prepared to bring some earplugs if possible, as the air conditioning can get a little loud. You must bring your own coffee if you are a connoisseur; the default option on board is not great, and it’s to be expected. The internet can be sketchy, but works if you get the Medic cabin, and strangely, if you keep the clinic door open, it improves the Wi-Fi signal! To make a clear phone call you can use the phone in the Doctor’s office, entering a code before you begin. You can also use the designated calling booths and dial 9 before inputting a number the normal way. It pays to be with Telstra as your provider as you can use your mobile phone to make normal calls over Wi-Fi. Bringing extra personal care items is recommended; they have toiletries on board, but for that extra comfort, it is worth bringing your own too.