Michael Inman August 19, 2012
Director of Capital and Regional Retrieval Service and Flight Doctor from the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter Kelvin Grove checks medical equipment that is carried on board the Helicopter. Photo: Jay Cronan
The chanceE to serve on the Snowy Hydro SouthCare rescue helicopter lured Kelvin Grove to Canberra in 2006.
And the director of the Capital Region Retrieval Service said news the service has been accredited to train junior doctors would entice more medical staff to the capital.
The service - which provides the doctors for the rescue helicopter - was granted specialty college accreditation last week for training in retrieval medicine.
The endorsement means doctors training as specialists in intensive care, emergency and as anaesthetists can be accredited for time served with the rescue service.
The first group - six senior registrars - will complete a retrieval medicine term by the year's end.
Dr Grove said the accreditation recognises the contribution and clinical excellence that doctors from Canberra Hospital, paramedics and the crew provide to the surrounding area.
''It recognises the high level of patient care provided in a challenging environment and will contribute to the recruitment and retention of highly qualified medical staff at the Canberra Hospital,'' he said.
Canberra's retrieval doctors - as part of the crew on the helicopter service - have assisted in more than 4700 lifesaving rescue and retrieval missions in the ACT and regional NSW since 1998.
The majority of patients are transferred to the Canberra Hospital.
ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher said it was important to recognise the contribution this service provides to the region.
''The dedication of highly specialised doctors, ACT ambulance flight paramedics, pilots and air crewmen should be acknowledged, as they often face challenging conditions when transporting and rescuing patients,'' Ms Gallagher said.