14 July 2008

New clinicians deliver important health services for local community

Visiting Tamworth Hospital today, NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher met some of the 31 new clinicians who made their home in Tamworth and Armidale over the past year, boosting health services for the local community.

"At a time when we're experiencing a critical workforce shortage right across Australia, it is a real credit to Hunter New England Area Health Service and local clinicians that they have been able to attract additional medical staff to the area," Ms Meagher said.

"While some of these new recruits have filled vacancies to ensure vital services continue, some of the appointments have been to new positions, bringing specialists services closer to home for the local community."

Ms Meagher said 11 new clinicians have joined Tamworth and Armidale hospitals since December, including:

• Obstetric staff specialists Dr Kishor Singh and Dr Andrew Ansari, who commenced in December 2007
• Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Rob Sharp who commenced in January and divides his time between Armidale and Tamworth hospitals
• Physician Dr Sam Adera who commenced at Tamworth Hospital in January
• Anesthetists Dr Simon Ford (January), Dr Kondareddy Yathan (February), and Dr Dianne Ford (May)
• General surgeon Dr Andrew Zbar who commenced work at Tamworth Hospital in March
• Urologist Dr Gias Ahmed commenced at Tamworth Hospital in April 2008
• Specialist physician Dr Sudheer Ahamed commenced at Armidale Hospital in May
• Endocrinologist Dr Deepali Shirkhedkar who commenced at Tamworth Hospital in June.

Member for Tamworth Peter Draper said Dr Shirkhedkar's expertise has been a significant addition to Tamworth Hospital's services.

"Previously, local physicians have been able to treat most gland-related afflictions, but people with more complex conditions have had to travel to Newcastle or Sydney for treatment," Mr Draper said.

"Dr Shirkhedkar's appointment is a real win for the local community, eliminating the need for many people to travel outside of the local area for treatment."

Ms Meagher also met a number of new Community Health staff including:

• Melissa Mills, Manager of Tamworth/Nundle Community Health Service
• Kelly Anncuk, Community Dietitan with the Child, Youth and Family Health team at Tamworth Community Health Service
• Kerry Cross, a Registered Nurse with the Transitional Aged Care Program.

"Staff at Tamworth Health Service and Tamworth/Nundle Community Health have worked together with the Tamworth Medical Staff Council, the New England and North West Slopes Divisions of GPs and local Members of Parliament Peter Draper and Richard Torbay to secure many of these important appointments," Ms Meagher said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au