PERMANENT GP JOB
General Practitioner Vacancy
Avalon, Northern Beaches
Sydney, New South Wales (NSW)
50 AVALON PARADE MEDICAL CLINIC
50 Avalon Parade Medical Clinic is looking for a new permanent GP to cover the departure of one of our doctors and help us manage with the continued growth in patient demand.
Our surgery has a deep connection with our local community and a warm, friendly and harmonious working environment, which is immediately evident when you walk in the door.
50 Avalon Parade Medical Clinic
50 Avalon Parade
Avalon, NSW 2107
POSITION:
Full Time or Part Time VR GP
COMMENCING: ASAP
GOOGLE MAPS:
Click here for a map overview of the surgery
GOOGLE EARTH:
Click here for a street view of the surgery.
SURGERY OVERVIEW
50 Avalon Parade Medical Clinic has been caring for the local Avalon community in its current location for some 25 years, after relocating from a smaller building nearby. It is now one of only 2 remaining GP surgeries in Avalon, 2 others having closed down in the past 5 years.
Our surgery’s two principles are Dr Peter Saxon-Williams, who is a CAMS and diving medical examiner, and Dr John Eccles, who is an attending doctor at Bear Cottage, the children’s hospice in Manly. Both of them have been looking after patients in this area for around 30 years.
The surgery itself has been expanded over the years to its current size and is housed in a single storey ground level building in the central area of Avalon, right next to a large council car park.
We are located only 5 minutes from Avalon beach and its popular sea pool, and 2 minutes from the Avalon town centre. where a number of cafes, shops and a Woolworths are located. Additional shopping centres can be found in Mona Vale (15 minutes drive) and Warriewood (a 20 minute drive). Mona Vale Hospital is a 15 minute drive from the surgery.
Avalon is well serviced by Sydney transport buses, with the new B Line fast bus service to the city, now running from Mona Vale.
The surgery is AGPAL Accredited, undergoing its 6th cycle this year now under the 5th edition standards.
SURGERY OWNERSHIP
The surgery is owned by the partnership of Dr John Eccles and Dr Peter Saxon-Williams, both of whom have been practising in Avalon for over 30 years. They have a joint interest in the ownership of the building which amounts to a majority holding. Both are well known and well respected in the area.
SURGERY LAYOUT
The surgery is single storey, ground level building with staff parking and limited patient parking. More parking, including disabled, is available in the council car park next door. The building has 5 consulting rooms, a dedicated podiatrist room, a treatment room, staff and patient facilities, sterilising room, waiting areas and an administration area. Disabled access is available at the front door and a stretcher ramp has been added to the back of the building. All surgeries have room controlled air-conditioning and natural lighting. All have free standing computers with back up battery power, printers, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters and thermometers. All rooms have examination couches with privacy screening and surgical lights.
SURGERY FACILITIES
Our surgery is open 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am - 12 noon on Saturdays (for emergencies only). The practice does not open on Sunday's or Public Holidays, (with the exception of emergency surgery if a doctor is available). The surgery currently has 2 principle partners and 3 associates, comprising an overall Full Time Equivalent of 3 VR GP's. Between 2 and 4 doctors are present on any given day, covering 8am - 5.30pm. Emergency appointments are available after that if needed. Doctors have the freedom to choose their own hours and days of work to fit in with surgery needs.
The practice uses Best Practice clincal and management software and Pencat and Topbar for searches and QI. The practice participates in a number of quality improvement initiatives with local PHN and other agencies.
TREATMENT ROOM
The treatment room has one adjustable height bed, treatment trolleys, desk and work station. It can be used for excisions and the treatment of minor trauma as well as all routine nurse appointments. Spirometry, ECG's, ear syringing can all be done in this room.
ADMIN SETUP
The practice is fully computerised (Best Practice) and receives most results and letters electronically via Argus / Fetch / Healthlink. We scan hard copy mail and old paper records are retained in on site storage. There is a dedicated Practice Manager (no reception work) who works 4 days a week and 4 reception staff who cover the surgery from 8am - 6pm. Busy periods (8am – 4pm) are covered by 2 receptionists, quieter times 4pm - 6.30pm are covered by 1 receptionist. The surgery runs a network of 9 computers with the clinical / management software and a wireless network for EFTPOS and Practice Manager laptop. All surgeries / treatment room have their own printer / scanners, the reception area has its own printer and a MFC for fax and scanning. All rooms have phones with an outside line capability. The surgery maintains contracts with eTG and AMH for the provision of on line reference material, and LogMeIn for remote access for IT, Practice Manager and GP's. The computer systems are maintained by a local IT consultant who is “au fait” with medical software and its issues.
NURSING SERVICES
Our surgery has a full time RN with a lifetime experience in hospital care and general practice. She has well established skills in a wide range of clinical disciplines and is an invaluable asset for our doctors. Whilst she always works under the instructions of her doctors she is capable of caring for patients autonomously and is an integral part of our clinical team.
The nurse has her own patient list every day but is always available to assist doctors with specific procedures such as excisions and urgent ECG's. She does INR point of care testing, immunisations, iron infusions, wound care, Spirometry, ECG's ear syringing, and runs CDM clinics including preparation of care plans, management plans and team care arrangements. She is a trained asthma nurse having worked for the Asthma foundation on the GASP project, and has been trained in Diabetic management.
ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES
The surgery rents a room to a Podiatrist and has a visiting clinical psychiatrist who rents a room on an ad hoc basis.
SPECIALIST SERVICES
Nil
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
There is no in-house imaging or pathology, other than clinical staff taking routine bloods swabs etc. Pathology testing is referred to DHM who are located in Avalon (2 minutes away) or Mona Vale (a 15 minute drive). Home collection service is available via DHM. Imaging is referred to PRP who are located in Mona Vale (15 minutes away) or Dee Why (30 minutes away) depending on the imaging required. Mona Vale Hospital does run a mobile imaging service for certain patients. All doctors have access to electronic results for imaging and pathology and can access x-rays and scans via the Inteleviewer programme.
OTHER CLINICAL SERVICES
The following special services are provided: Excisions, skin cancer screening, diving medicals, CAMS medicals.
PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Avalon has a fairly stable, mixed demographic, albeit with the addition of a significant number of British expats in recent years. The area is largely populated by small family businesses, self-employed construction industry contractors and retirees. There is also a significant marine industry presence in the area.
Our medical centre has over 10,000 patients with a fairly even mix across the age groups. We have a higher than average proportion of aged care patients as a result of the number of retirees living in the area. We also have a significant number of children, arising from Dr Eccles reputation in the area for his Paediatric medicine.
The population of Avalon can double during the summer months with a large influx of tourists to the Northern Beaches. Tick bites are a common issue on Sydney's northern beaches.
BILLING ARRANGEMENTS
The practice is predominantly private billing with bulk billing available for GPs who wish to use it. The surgery offers 3 levels of
billing to be used at the doctor’s discretion. The Practice fee for an item 23 is $85, a discount rate of $75 is available as is an 'A' rate of
$65. The patient 'out of pocket' amount is between $47 and $48 for every Medicare item number. Practice Nurse charges are levied
according to the complexity of the attendance, dressings and vaccines are charge at cost price.
PATIENT FLOWS
Appointments are scheduled in 15 minute time slots with most doctors booking 3 per hour. The 4th is left for emergencies. Doctors can see up to 4 patients per hour. The surgery policy is to have appointments available each day, this can vary from 5 to 15 depending on the number of doctors working. In most cases all these appointments will be taken during the course of the day.
TOWN/SUBURB FACILITIES
Located between the Pittwater and the ocean, Avalon is a quiet suburb on Sydney's beaches. It has excellent surf and swimming beaches, with easy access to both the ocean and protected beaches on Pittwater. It is within easy reach of Ku Ring Gai National Park (20 minutes) which has excellent bush walking and cycling trails. Pittwater is a boatie’s haven with launching ramps and marina's providing access to Pittwater and the wider Hawkesbury waterways for boats, kayaks and paddle boards. The beaches of Mona Vale, Newport, Avalon, Whale Beach and Palm beach provide excellent surfing and all beaches in the area have ocean pools.
Avalon has a good variety of shops, a cinema, numerous cafes, and a surf club with stunning ocean views. There are a number of good
schools in the area extending from Avalon to Terrey Hills and Narrabeen. Both Mona Vale and Warriewood provide larger shopping
facilities with on site parking and Warringah Mall is about 30 minutes by car.
There are a number of excellent public and private golf courses and Bowls clubs in the area, as well as a range of sporting facilities.
Transport to the city by bus is regular, driving takes approximately 1 hour.
There is a major cinema complex at Warriewood and a number of yacht clubs and RSL's in close proximity many of whom offer social
membership, all of whom have a diverse programme of social events and excellent restaurant / bistro facilities.
The whole of the northern beaches provides a wide range of cafes and restaurants to cover all tastes and budgets.
Avalon itself is a popular holiday destination with the population doubling at the height of summer.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Avalon is a beachside community with easy access to the CBD. Surfing, Sailing, boating, kayaking, bush walking and diving are all available within 30 mins drive. City attractions are only 1 hour away by car or bus. Easy access to the Pittwater and Hawkesbury rivers by boat or car.
SKILLS OR INTERESTS SOUGHT
VR GP
CIRCUMSTANCES
Recent relocation of 1 GP, both partners looking to reduce hours and continued growth in patient demand.
CONTRACT TERMS
We are happy to negotiate a competitive receipts based, % rate of pay with 3 months guaranteed income on commencement.
Hours and days are negotiable but we require a minimum 2 days per week. Participation in our Saturday roster preferred but not essential. Nursing home visits not essential but would be useful. Willingness to participate in surgery quality improvement initiatives desirable. Option to become part of the management team in due course.
GENERAL COMMENTS
This practice is a traditional, family oriented general practice that believes in providing the patient with the best possible service available. Teamwork is highly valued and encouraged within the practice to promote a harmonious and productive environment. Practice staff work as a family unit, supporting each other both professionally and privately, creating a relaxed but professional working environment. Laughter is an important part of every day. Our reception staff are viewed as a vital part of the team that are integral to the smooth running of the medical practice and the creation of a warm, positive, friendly and caring environment for our patients.
CONTACT:
Contact Name:
Liz Clarke
50 Avalon Parade Medical Clinic
50 Avalon Pde, Avalon, NSW 2107
Phone BH: 02 9918 3716
Email:
Posted: 10th March 2018
Position Reference: DY17058
