Introduction 

The young and dynamic anaesthetic department of RDH is staffed by 10 staff anaesthetists and 1 VMO. As RDH is located over 3000km from the nearest tertiary referral hospital we are proficient at anaesthetising for a diverse clinical caseload.  We pride ourselves on providing culturally appropriate best practise anaesthesia.

Our aim is also to provide a friendly, supportive and interactive teaching environment for our trainees. 

Being the nearest Australian capital city to Asia also places us in a unique position to provide emergency anaesthetic care in a uncertain world.

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Case load 

We anaesthetise around 9000 anaesthetic cases in 5 main operating theatres and two minor operating theatres (including Endoscopy). 15% of these are paediatric. 30% of patients are indigenous and our catchment area is over 600 000 km2.

Specialities includes:

  • Elective thoracic and major abdominal surgery
  • Vascular
  • Complex Obstetrics
  • Paediatric including neonatal
  • Major joint replacement
  • Major trauma
  • Emergency neurosurgery
  • MRI
  • Hyperbaric medicine
  • Aeromedical retrieval 

We recently hosted the 11th Remote Situations Difficult Circumstances Developing Country Anaesthesia (RSDCDCA) course in Darwin. This one week, practical, hands-on clinical meeting aims to help Australian and New Zealand consultant anaesthetists deal with the challenges of providing anaesthetic care and teaching in a majority country. We plan to run the course again in 2007.

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Staff 

Dr Brian Spain
Position Director of Anaesthesia
Director of Hyperbaric Medicine
Qualifications
  • FANZCA
  • MRCA
  • DipRACOG
    		•
    Anaesthetic Interests
  • Paediatrics
  • Anaesthesia in developing countries.
  • Drawover anaesthesia.
  • Training GP anaesthetists.
    		•
    Other interests.
  • Oxfam Australia and Fair Trade Coffee
  • Breeding frogs to fend off cane toads in Darwin.
  • Travel.
    		•
    Dr David Moon
    Position Senior staff anaesthetist
    Qualifications
  • MB.BS, FFARACS,FANZCA
    		•
    Anaesthetic Interests
  • Orthopaedics.
  • Paediatrics.
    		•
    Other interests.
  • Woodwork.
  • Motorcycling.
  • Horse racing.
  • Bicycling.
    		•
    Dr Phil Blum
    Position Deputy Director
    Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia, Flinders University
    Qualifications FANZCA
    Anaesthetic Interests
  • Anaesthesia in developing countries.
  • Intensive care.
  • Teaching and research.
  • Hyperbaric Medicine
    		•
    Other interests.
  • Competitive cycling.
  • Motorcycling.
  • Travel.
    		•

    Dr Saskia Hensen

    Position Staff anaesthetist
    Qualifications FANZCA
    Anaesthetic Interests Anaesthesia in developing countries.
    Other interests.
  • Jewellery making.
    • Dr Attila Nagy
    Position Director of Acute Pain Service
    Qualifications
  • FANZCA
    		•
    Anaesthetic Interests
  • Acute Pain Management
  • Simulation
  • Regional Anaesthesia
    		•
    Other interests.
  • Travel
  • Environmental/Green Issues
  • Languages
  • IT stuff
    		•

    Dr Helge Suhr

    Position Staff Anaesthetist
    Qualifications
  • FANZCA
  • Facharzt Anaesthesia
  • DEAA
    • Anaesthetic Interests
  • Thoracic
  • Hyperbaric medicine
  • Intensive Care.
    • Other interests.
  • Paragliding
  • Kayaking
  • Mountaineering
    • Dr Andrew Mitchell
    Position Staff Anaesthetist
    Qualifications
    • FANZCA
    • Dip Obs
    • DCH
    • MBChB
    • BSc
    Anaesthetic Interests
    • Obstetrics
    • Trauma
    • Remote anaesthesia/GP anaesthesia
    • Hyberbaric Medicine
    Other interests.
    • Flyfishing and fly design
    • Alpine hunting and photography
    • Wooden boat building and design
    • Gastronomic travel

    Dr Elizabeth Freihaut
    Position Consultant
    Qualifications
  • B.Med
  • FANZCA
    		•
    Anaesthetic Interests
  • Anaesthesia in developing countries
  • Paediatrics
    		•
    Other interests.
  • Hiking and camping
  • Travel
  • Salsa dancing
  • Cycling
  • Reading
    		•
    Dr Linda Partridge
    Position Anaesthetist
    Qualifications FANZCA
    Anaesthetic Interests Regional Aneasthesia / Ultrasound
    Other interests.
  • Development of Mothercrafting skills
  • Travel
  • Art
    		•

     

    Training positions 

    The Department of Anaesthesia is accredited by the ANZCA for up to 12 months of training. Currently specialist staffing allows up to 5 registrars to be on the training program.

    There are 3 positions approved for Advanced Training Year 3.

    Generally 4 positions are on rotation from Adelaide on the South Australian Northern Territory Anaesthesia Training Scheme. These are 6 to 12 month rotations. 

    There are 2 anaesthetic GP training positions developed in conjunction with RACGP.

    Secondment to Intensive Care can be arranged if desired.

    Teaching and research 

    We have an active teaching and research programme.

    All residents and registrars attend a weekly 2 hour Tuesday morning tutorial as well as a weekly departmental meeting.

    We can accommodate trainees wishing to sit their part I and II college exams.

    GP trainees can enrol in our JCCA 12 month GP anaesthetic course.

    The department has published several papers and many registrars have completed their formal college project while seconded here.

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    Contact details  

    For further enquiries regarding employment please write to:

    Dr Brian Spain
    Department of Anaesthesia
    Royal Darwin Hospital
    PO Box 41326
    Casuarina NT 0811
    Phone: 8922 8713
    Fax: 8922 8325
    Email: rdh.ths@nt.gov.au

     

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