The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is a small, but busy clinical unit at Alice Springs Hospital, with about 700-750 deliveries annually.

About 60% of women delivering at the hospital are Aboriginal, however the delivery rates do not truly reflect the clinical workload. The case mix is varied and includes a high pre-term delivery rate and serious maternal morbidity with infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, renal disease and rheumatic heart disease.

Doctors in training gain valuable clinical exposure to Aboriginal health issues and high risk medical obstetrics, as well as a first-hand experience of varied and specific challenges faced in providing health care to a diverse population.

Teaching

The department is a teaching unit for medical students from the Northern Territory Clinical School, affiliated with Flinders University of South Australia. The teaching program includes:

• Once weekly education sessions on topics relevant to the Certificate of Women’s Health/ Diploma, or journal article review
• Once weekly case presentations discussing perinatal morbidity
• Quarterly perinatal mortality audits

Other specific learning opportunities are provided by:

• A dedicated early pregnancy clinic runs on 3 times a week providing an opportunity in the first trimester to perform hands-on supervised ultrasound examinations, as well as gaining confidence in the counselling and management of complications. Trainee registrars rate this clinic highly in achieving its teaching goals.
• Opportunity to learn basic obstetric ultrasound
• Opportunity to learn colposcopy within the general gynaecology clinics
• Outreach visits to Aboriginal community clinics and district hospitals complement the experience of understanding the challenges of health care in the NT.
• Elective Gynaecology theatre session attendance provides an opportunity to both perform and assist in routine gynaecological surgery

Training

Alice Springs Hospital is currently accredited with the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for advanced training, and the Integrated Training Program (ITP) training (rural term).

Resident medical officer posts of 3, 6 and 12 months are available for general experience in obstetrics and gynaecology and to pursue the diploma, advanced diploma, and certificate of women’s health in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Contact

For further information email MedicalRecruitmentASH@nt.gov.au