My time here in Stanley is drawing to a close. The last six weeks have easily been some of the most memorable experiences of my life so far. I feel I have been utterly immersed in rural medicine right from the start, and boy have I loved it. During my stay here I have been able to dabble in General Practice, General Medicine, Emergency and Trauma Medicine, General Surgery and Anaesthesia with the resident doctors, Dermatology, Paediatrics and Orthopaedics with visiting specialists and even a bit of Dentistry thrown in for good measure. I think I learnt more about oral medicine in the two hours I was with the dentist than in the last five years of my degree!! › Continue reading…

One of the great things about rural general practice is the places you travel to, to see your patients. I got to experience the Falklands version of this recently. › Continue reading…

One question every doctor will have been asked numerous times throughout their training and career is “why did you want to become a doctor?” For the first time I asked myself this question the other day after talking to a young soldier, sitting in the ED waiting area watching the news as the New York apartment explosions unfolded.

I stopped to see what was happening on my way past. As we chatted about what we thought was the cause of the explosions was we posed the question of what we would do if we found ourselves in a situation like that. I said that I would like to think I would be able to help out in someway – help get people out or assist medically. He said in response, “I don’t know what I would do, my job is to kill people not save them.” › Continue reading…

Despite predictions of disruption by Cyclone Luci, Saturday (15 March) morning dawned fine and calm in Wellington for the annual Pat Farry Trust Fun Run & Walk. Supporters numbering 150 ran, walked and talked around the waterfront course to support the Queenstown based national trust. For the third year, the Fun Run & Walk was held in association with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network’s (NZRGPN) annual conference. Conference attendees, many colleagues and peers of the late Dr Pat Farry, were joined by Wellingtonians raising money for and awareness of the Trust’s work. › Continue reading…

Rachel Lynskey, Garry Nixon, Mark Smith and Jeremy Webber are a like-minded group of Rural Hospital Doctors and General Practitioners who are competing in the GODZone 2014. Through this adventure they hope to raise awareness for rural medicine in New Zealand and highlight the fundamental role of exercise, teamwork and endeavour in improving the health of New Zealanders. They are also raising money for the Pat Farry Trust.

Follow our vigil as we track the team on this epic expedition… › Continue reading…