RDWA

Rocky River Medical Practice

Practice Details

Mill St, Laura SA 5480

Business Hours

Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm

The Vacancy - UNDER CONTRACT

Rocky River Medical Practice is seeking to recruit one full-time GP, to replace a doctor who will be relocating.

Remuneration Package

Doctors are responsible for operating expenses under a licence agreement and retain individual earnings after the deduction of expenses. A furnished house is available for moderate rent. The practice has normally run an association of GP’s. The individual income earned from consultations in the general practice, the fee for service from the hospital and on call allowances as per SARMFA agreement, commonly leads to an annual taxable income after practice expenses of approximately $250,000 per annum. If required a salaried arrangement could be negotiated.

The Practice

Rocky River Medical Practice is staffed by two GP’s.  There are two premises, one at the Southern Flinders Health Laura Hospital and one at the Gladstone Health Centre, Gladstone. The practice uses an evidence based approach to medicine and the GP’s constantly maintain and update their skills in diagnosis and management of illness.  The practice provides health care to the diverse range of people who live in our district in an environment fostered by teamwork with nursing and hospital staff.

Our aim is to provide a high standard of patient care incorporating a holistic approach towards diagnosis and management of illness and is committed to promoting health, wellbeing and disease prevention to all patients.  Southern Flinders Health has recently become a Multi-Purpose Service which aims to provide flexibility in the provision of aged care services. There is a significant focus on primary health care which complements the existing acute and residential care services.

The practice at Laura/Gladstone is staffed by two part time administration staff covering the practice for a full day and a part time Practice Nurse (RN) 2 hours per day is at Laura only.  The administration staff organise appointments, bookings and accounts including the daily activities on the reception desk. The Laura Practice Nurse can assist the GP’s in the allocated afternoon session with immunisations, venepuncture, ECG; wound dressings, removal of lumps and bumps and senior health assessments.

The main services provided by the Practice include emergency medicine, counselling, geriatrics, mental health and paediatrics.

Rocky River Medical Practice opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

The two GP’s share the After-hours/on-call roster which provides 24hour care for patients.  They are rostered on alternate nights and weekends.  The Laura Hospital also provides excellent support for the GP with skilled emergency trained nursing staff and the provision of collaborative care for patients both in hospital and within the community.

Leave entitlements will be negotiated.  The doctor’s provide mutual support for short periods of absence as required.

Discover Laura

The township of Laura is 220 km north of Adelaide and the practice services a population of 2000 plus surrounding areas.   It is situated in the valley of the Rocky River which flows intermittently and is edged by Red Gums.  This is one of a series of valleys running north-south in the Southern Flinders Ranges, providing better watered country than the coastal plains, and station country, to the east.  The rainfall is about 460mm a year and many broad-acre crops are grown in the district.

Principal industries include wheat, barley, wool, sheep, pigs, cattle and grain legumes. While traditional cropping and livestock systems remain dominant features of agriculture there is evidence of diversity within the rural sector. Intensive land use activities such as olive production and viticulture are emerging in the catchment area. A viable agribusiness sector including light engineers, fertiliser and farm chemical distributors, agricultural machinery manufacturers and sales are spread across rural townships in the region. Laura is home to the Golden North ice-cream manufacturing plant.  Tourism is an emerging industry; however, there is evidence that this sector is under-developed given the natural attributes of the Southern Flinders Ranges. 

Southern Flinders Health Service – Laura Hospital and Gladstone Health Centre is also an employer of many local people.  In Laura there is a 16 bed Hospital, including four acute beds and 12 Residential Aged Care beds. Services provided include acute medical, transitional care packages, palliative care and 24 hour emergency services. The hospital is fully equipped with bedside diagnostic equipment including INR & troponin machine, portable X-ray facilities, cardiac monitor/defibrillator, oxylog and a fully equipped emergency department.

A large number of nursing staff are trained in advanced life support, rural and remote emergency and possess excellent triage assessment and clinical skills. Some Registered Nurses have X-ray Licences and IV cannulation skills. There is a local pharmacy within the townships.

School facilities in Laura include a Kindergarten and Laura Primary School providing education from reception year to Year 7. Gladstone High School provides facilities for Year 8-12.

Sport is important and the community is proud of their competitive football, netball, tennis and cricket clubs.  Our community also offers other sports including lawn bowls, swimming, shooting, golf and darts. Excellent recreational facilities are available including a sporting complex.

The larger regional town of Port Pirie is approximately a half an hour travel from Laura.  Laura is at the foothills of the world renowned Flinders Ranges.

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