CMSA Accreditations:
Dip Obst(SA) Dip Obst(SA)
Dip HIV Man(SA) Dip HIV Man(SA)
Rural Allowance: Yes
Doctors Quarters:
- No comments yet.
Academics:
- There was no real teaching, except maybe on two occasions. A few of the other doctors were quite knowledgeable and eager to teach if you go and ask them questions, but you had to be the one to initiate.
Supervision:
- Most of the departments had someone you could call if you were desperate. The O&G HOD would come in the middle of the night if there was an emergency, which was a great relief. But for most of the departments you were largely left to your own knowledge and skills.
Clinical Exposure:
- It is a district level hospital, so most of the very interesting cases get deferred or referred, but it is a very hands-on year. Between your calls and your daily rounds, you end up covering basically every department.
Departments worked in:
- Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthetics, ARV clinic, Emergency Department, OPD’s - “When I was there we were 4 commserves, and the medical manager was generous to let us decide amongst ourselves how we wanted to divide up our year. He only required that we include at least 1 month surgery (which is mostly emergency department) and 1 month O&G. Although you don’t get that much experience in 1 month, it was a great recap of cutting caesars, doing EC, and seeing patients in SOPD.
Most of my year, however, was in paeds and ARV clinic, where I managed to do the diploma in HIV.”
Social Scene:
- “I stayed in Mtunzini, about a 40min drive from Eshowe. Most of the Ngwelezane interns, commserves, MO’s and allieds also stay there, so it is a really awesome social scene! The beach is a jog away with really lovely trails to go running through. If possible, try to stay in Zini River Estate - so beautiful and safe, so you can easily go walking to one another’s homes even at night.
Would recommend it to anyone!”
Additional Comments:
- "You do either 4 weekday calls a month, or 1 entire weekend a month, where you then stay in a flat across from the hospital. Depending on which department you are working in, your call is one of 3:
- Wards/anaesthetics - here you are on ward call for any emergencies or problem patients. Your rounds on the weekends include all the new patients admitted overnight to the hospital, as well as any problem patients highlighted by the sisters. This can end anywhere between 12pm and 8pm, depending on the day.
- Obs & Gyn and neonates - the sisters call you for any problems during delivery, any indications for C/S, etc. The sisters in all the departments are generally really wonderful and knowledgeable.
- EC - you basically cover EC, usually with 1-2 sisters.
Although there were incidents where patients really weren’t managed well in my opinion, and you have to learn to rely on your own skills and make decisions, I think it was a great, well-rounded year. There were some nice early days as well."
Please contribute to this conversation by replying to this topic.