St George Hospital
Address
Victoria St, St George, QLD, 4487, AUSTRALIA
About the Placement
Placement Type: Hospital
St George Hospital has accident and emergency, general ward, outpatient, surgical, birthing and wound management services. They are also supported by the flying surgeon and the flying obstetrician/gynaecologist, along with other vital visiting services.
It is a 31 bed hospital.
About St George
St George is a pleasant rural service centre which is located on the Balonne River with the vast flatlands of the Darling Downs stretching beyond the Great Dividing Range. The town provides services to the surrounding wheat, sheep and cotton farmers, and, in recent times, fruits, grapes, vegetables and beef have enriched the local economy. St George has tree lined streets where you’ll find great coffee, gourmet deli and quality pub food.
Close-by attractions include;
- Drive the cotton trail
- Cotton farm & vineyard tour
- Visit the Nindigully Pub
- Explore the Balonne River
- St George Show - May
- Easter in the Vines
- Yellowbelly Country Music Festival - July
- St George Races - November
- Polocrosse - St George (June), Bollon (July), Dirranbandi (August)
- St George Fishing Competition - October
- River Dragon Multi-Cultural Festival
Website
Getting there
Distance from Brisbane: 493km (5h 30m drive time)
Transport Options: Bus, Drive, Fly
Accommodation Type: Hospital accommodation (up to 1km to hospital)
Transport required for placement: Advantageous - for travel between placement and accommodation (if further from hospital) and exploring the region
Tips from Previous Students
Placement:
- Get involved as much as you can, hang around the ED to see the most patients and take opportunities to do recreational activities with doctors and other staff from placement
- If you show interest early on the doctors are amazing at getting you involved.
- There is a Country University Centre in town which provides 24 hour access to a library area and private rooms, you just had to make an appointment to get an access fob. The centre has free wifi and highspeed internet which is great as the accommodation doesn't and it is also a nice study spot. https://www.cucbalonne.edu.au/
Community Engagement:
- Make friends with the younger staff in the hospital, say yes to every social opportunity.
- Bingo at the Aussie on a Wednesday night, Barefoot bowls on Wednesday nights fortnightly at bowls club and Parkrun on Saturdays.
- The St George Triathlon was a great day out for competitors and spectators alike. Also the river cruise and nearby bore baths (lightning ridge, charlotte's plains) were amazing!
- Kneeboarding/water skiing, visiting local and nearby pubs, participating in parkrun, frequenting the local gym and local community barbeques.
Testimonials
I had an overall excellent experience in St George, with plenty of opportunity for hands-on learning, and with plenty of doctors available at the hospital always prepared to teach. My preceptor was a very good preceptor, always willing to get students involved, and always taking time to teach.
I had an unreal time out at St George. The team is fantastic and it’s a great facility. This placement has cemented my will to become a rural generalist.
I've felt so welcome and looked after at St George, and all of the hospital doctors have actively tried to get me involved and have taken the time out to teach me. The doctors have been incredibly generous with their time and with finding learning opportunities for me.
St George was an amazing experience. I got to see a huge variety of cases and be an active participant in many procedures. The preceptor is super experienced and the whole team are all very keen teachers. Also was a great opportunity for heaps of DOPS/COPS.
I have nothing but positive feedback about St George Hospital and the medical staff working there. All of the doctors, including my preceptor, gave me frequent opportunities to learn and practice my skills. Leaving St George will be bittersweet, but I see myself coming back as a PHO/intern in the future.