West Moreton Health’s ability to attract and develop Prison Health Service staff has been further boosted ahead of the opening of the new Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre.
Already an employer of choice in the region, West Moreton has received Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) accreditation to undertake key medical registrar training.
The accreditation will allow selected Senior Medical Officers (SMO) from West Moreton’s Prison Health Service to supervise GP registrars during their training.
Medical registrars are doctors who have completed their medical degree and are undertaking further training in the specialised area of general practice.
Accreditation will enhance the appeal of employment at West Moreton’s Prison Health Service for registrars, while also upskilling the workforce.
The boost comes as work continues on the Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre, a 1536-bed, high security men’s prison scheduled to receive its first prisoners in late 2024 or early 2025.
“Receiving accreditation is great news for West Moreton Health and in turn, its patients,” said Dr Nadeem Siddiqui, Clinical Director of West Moreton's Prison Health Services.
“We have faced recruitment challenges in prison health in the past, but the ACCRM and RACGP accreditation will assist us in attracting and developing our workforce.
“It goes without saying that we want our doctors to learn and build their skills and knowledge as much as possible. This will open up new, interesting opportunities.
“We provide general health services at seven correctional and detention centres in the West Moreton region, and being able to offer registrar training will help at the rural and remote sites in particular.
“We have been working towards gaining ACRRM and RACGP accreditation for around 12 months, so it’s very satisfying to fulfil our goal.
“It’s an exciting time.”
More information on West Moreton Health’s Prison Health Service is available here: Prison and Youth Detention Health Services | West Moreton Health