May 26, 2017
Three new staff have started work at the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital, taking the total number of visiting medical officers at the Kingaroy medical facility to 12.
“These high quality medical staff ensure that more people from the South Burnett no longer have to travel to Brisbane or Toowoomba for their procedures,” Community Hospital Foundation chair Wayne Kratzmann said on Friday.
“Their appointment is another sign of the growing strength of our community hospital.”
The new staff are Dr Brendan Miller, Dr Abhishek Sharma and Michael Bishop.
Dr Miller currently operates at both St Vincent’s and St Andrew’s Hospitals In Toowoomba.
He works as an obstetrician and gynaecologist with special interests in advanced laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery and urogynaecology.
Dr Abhishek Sharma joined the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital in April as a visiting ophthalmic surgeon specialising in retinal conditions.
Dr Sharma also consults at the Queensland Eye Institute and operates at the South Bank Day Hospital, both located at South Brisbane, and is a visiting medical officer with Queensland Health, as well as a Senior Lecturer with the School Of Medicine at The University Of Queensland.
Meanwhile, Michael Bishop has taken up the position of Director Of Clinical Services.
Michael has previously worked as the Executive Director of Rural Health and Aged Care for the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, and is well known to the Kingaroy community.
The hospital now offers services in heart health and cardiac surgery; cataract surgery and general eye health procedures; general endoscopic and colonoscopy procedures; some orthopaedic services; and a range of women’s health services. It can also provide infusions.
Michael said the hospital hopes to be able to add oncology services, and palliative and respite care services, in the future.
This week the South Burnett Regional Council also began to demolish the former Glendon Street Medical Centre located at the rear of the Community Hospital.
The building’s demolition will free up space for a future expansion of the hospital’s facilities.
