P.O.Box 433
Nedlands
Western Australia 6909
10 Stirling Highway
Nedlands
Western Australia 6009
Training and Support for GP Obstetricians
In Western Australia approximately 25,000 obstetric deliveries occur annually. Approximately 5,000 of these occur in rural and remote Western Australia. Of that population located outside of Bunbury, women have access to only 3.5 obstetricians and gynaecologists and 134 practising GP Obstetricians who work out of 22 centres spread across 2.5 million square kilometres. (Figures current at September 2007)
In past years, doctors who completed their Diploma of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRANZCOG) were involved in many more deliveries and cases than they are today. Most doctors train in an urban centre where they compete for deliveries with midwives and trainee doctors and nurses. To encourage more doctors to complete their DRANZCOG and to practise Obstetrics post qualification, there needed to be a consolidation of skills in a mentored environment to support them while they gained enough confidence to enable them to work independently.
Rural Health West was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing , Statewide Obstetrics Support Unit and Western Australia General Practice Education and Training Ltd to support and mentor a GP who has recently obtained a Diploma in Obstetrics to enable her to gain the skills and experience required to operate independently as a GP Obstetrician.
The original aim of the project was to undertake a feasibility study to establish three pilot GP obstetrics training sites (two rural and one metro). Through stakeholder consultation and overwhelming support it became apparent that to achieve the best outcome for the project was through the establishment of a pilot site which commenced in Geraldton in January 2007.
Since commencement of the pilot site and through further marketing and promotion of the program, there has been an increase in doctors interested in participating in the program on completion of their basic and advanced DRANZCOG. There has also been an increase in those considering completing their DRANZCOG training knowing they will work in a supportive environment on completion of their training. It also became apparent that, during the time of the project, all enquiries regarding the program were from Registrars undertaking their training pathway through Western Australian General Practice Education and Training Ltd
The pilot program was completed in September 2007 and an evaluation was conducted which demonstrated that the program was successful. It was therefore decided to implement the program in 2008
Download evaluation of Training and Support for GP Obstetricians Program here.
For more information click here, or email Rural Health West, or telephone (08) 6389 4500.
