New paediatrician for Roma
Published Friday, 21 September, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Roma children will no longer need to travel to Toowoomba or Brisbane for specialist treatment following the appointment of a new Queensland Health paediatrician, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson said Dr Ken Dawson was based at Roma Hospital and would also fly to more remote communities to conduct clinics in St George, Goondiwindi, Chinchilla, Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Charleville.
“The arrival of Dr Dawson represents a significant improvement in health service delivery to South West Queensland and will save families the time, cost and stress of travelling with unwell children for treatment,” he said.
“The position has been vacant since May 2006 because of the difficulty in recruiting specialists to rural areas.
“A locum travelling from Adelaide one out of every six weeks has provided temporary care but now Roma has a permanent paediatrician the local community can enjoy far greater continuity of care.”
Mr Robertson said Dr Dawson had teaching and medical experience across a number of continents.
“After studying and training in Scotland, the US and England, Dr Dawson has worked as a paediatrician, University lecturer then professor of Paediatrics in New Zealand, Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said.
“He has been senior lecturer at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital, Chair of the National Medical School at the University of UAE, and personal Chair in Paediatrics at Otago University and the Wellington School of Medicine.
“Dr Dawson will also be able to mentor and help educate medical and nursing staff across the district in his specialty areas.”
Dr Dawson said he looked forward to the challenges and satisfactions of practicing in a rural setting.
“I expect it will be challenging working in isolation from a large number of medical specialists, however I will be using videoconferencing and teleconferencing to stay connected,” he said.
“I have had my time in big cities and like the rural lifestyle; although I have never lived in as isolated a town as Roma before.”
Dr Dawson has moved to the district with his wife, Mairi, a former nurse. Their two adult children live in Sydney and New Zealand.
21 September, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
Mr Robertson said Dr Ken Dawson was based at Roma Hospital and would also fly to more remote communities to conduct clinics in St George, Goondiwindi, Chinchilla, Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Charleville.
“The arrival of Dr Dawson represents a significant improvement in health service delivery to South West Queensland and will save families the time, cost and stress of travelling with unwell children for treatment,” he said.
“The position has been vacant since May 2006 because of the difficulty in recruiting specialists to rural areas.
“A locum travelling from Adelaide one out of every six weeks has provided temporary care but now Roma has a permanent paediatrician the local community can enjoy far greater continuity of care.”
Mr Robertson said Dr Dawson had teaching and medical experience across a number of continents.
“After studying and training in Scotland, the US and England, Dr Dawson has worked as a paediatrician, University lecturer then professor of Paediatrics in New Zealand, Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said.
“He has been senior lecturer at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital, Chair of the National Medical School at the University of UAE, and personal Chair in Paediatrics at Otago University and the Wellington School of Medicine.
“Dr Dawson will also be able to mentor and help educate medical and nursing staff across the district in his specialty areas.”
Dr Dawson said he looked forward to the challenges and satisfactions of practicing in a rural setting.
“I expect it will be challenging working in isolation from a large number of medical specialists, however I will be using videoconferencing and teleconferencing to stay connected,” he said.
“I have had my time in big cities and like the rural lifestyle; although I have never lived in as isolated a town as Roma before.”
Dr Dawson has moved to the district with his wife, Mairi, a former nurse. Their two adult children live in Sydney and New Zealand.
21 September, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680