Pioneering General Practice in South Australia
On the banks of the River Murray in Renmark, South Australia, Dr Sinead Turner is helping to redefine the role of a rural GP.
Born and raised in Adelaide, Dr Turner’s journey into medicine was sparked by a family doctor who embodied the essence of patient-centred care.
“Dr David Anderson was our family GP, the kind who knew every patient’s story,” she recalls.
“He was the man we saw whenever I had a sore throat, runny nose, a broken bone, or needed travel immunisations.
“He was incredibly patient, and I always admired his ability to seemingly do it all, from drawing my blood in his room, to cutting out lesions – anything we needed, he could do.
“He wasn’t just treating symptoms; he was treating people, and that inspired me to pursue medicine, particularly in a rural setting.”
Sinead completed her medical degree at Flinders University, where she met her fiancé, and together they embarked on a journey that would lead them to the State’s rural Riverland area.
“We were both offered contracts with the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network from intern year,” she explains.
“Moving to Renmark in 2022 was a leap of faith, but it turned out to be the best decision we ever made.
“We fell in love with the place immediately and have now purchased a property locally, and have worked across the Riverland General Hospital and multiple GP clinics ever since.”
Despite the advantages, Sinead acknowledges the challenges of being a GP, especially in rural areas.
“There’s still a stigma around general practice,” she says.
“Some see it as a fallback option, but I’ve always viewed it as the ultimate way to care for patients from cradle to grave.
“As I went through medical school, I found there were many more disciplines I was ruling in as possible careers ongoing, rather than ruling out.
“A tutor at university described this as ‘the generalised’ versus ‘the specialist’.
“If you’re able to rule out more specialties than you keep, you’re destined for sub-specialty training, and if you like them all, GP or general medicine is for you. So GP it was for me!
“It was only once I was exposed to rural generalism during my third-year placement that I realised the opportunities it could offer.
“The most rewarding aspect of rural GP is its variation.
“I can go from staffing the ED, to reviewing a child’s ears, to delivering a baby across the span of my week, and nothing can compare to that.”
Sinead believes patience and personal insight are the cornerstones of general practice.
“A lot of our day is spent counselling patients with situational crises, family breakdowns, and mental health difficulties,” she explains.
“This can be taxing on your own mental health, and being aware of your own ‘compassion fatigue’ and how to adequately care for patients when you yourself are having a tough time is paramount.
“On a lighter note, good time management and the ability to touch type will make your life a lot easier, because we can spend our days squeezing in ‘the patient that must be seen today’ during our lunchbreaks.”
Sinead and her fiance’s commitment to rural health has been further solidified through their involvement with the Single Employer Model (SEM) trial in South Australia.
This innovative model enables rural generalist and general practice trainees to be employed by the South Australian Health Service as salaried employees for up to five years while they complete their vocational training, instead of having to change employers every six or 12 months with each new placement.
The SEM trial has offered Sinead and her peers a unique opportunity to blend hospital and general practice work within a supportive network.
“The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) and SEM model have allowed me the opportunity of rounding out the skills I feel I need, in a seamless way,” she says.
“When I feel I need to improve my experience in anaesthetics, or paediatrics for example, a rotation can be easily organised, because I’m employed by the Health Network, rather than an individual general practice.
“It has also had unexpected benefits with patient care.
“Because I work across both the GP and the hospital, I have a high chance of knowing the doctor I am handing over to in ED, or the radiographer I am trying to organise an urgent scan with, which allows for quicker and more effective discussion and handover.
“There are also financial positives, as I am able to keep accrued sick and personal leave, as well as have access to maternity leave when the time comes.
“A traditional private model of GP may still be financially superior, depending how effective the junior is with time management and billing in general practice.
“Overall though, RACE and the SEM model have been an incredibly rewarding experience for me, and have allowed me to create a new home and community in the Riverland.”
Looking ahead, Sinead is passionate about advancing women’s health in rural communities.
“I’m currently working on my RANZCOG Advanced Diploma so I can deliver babies independently, and I hope to set up women-focused clinics in the Riverland,” she says.
“My goal is to empower women with education and access to comprehensive reproductive health services.”
Her commitment to her patients is evident in the stories she shares, including a memorable experience during her RMO year.
“My first vaginal delivery as a doctor was a turning point,” she explains.
“I had been called in from home after an incredibly long working day, and was trying my best to coach this woman through her second stage of labour.
“Unfortunately, I had made the rookie error of standing directly at the end of the bed as the woman was pushing, an error that resulted in me being absolutely saturated in meconium-stained liquor as her waters broke.
“But there I was, exhausted from a long day at work, now wet down to my sneakers from amniotic fluid, and still absolutely beaming as I delivered a screaming bub onto an even more exhausted but ecstatic mum’s chest.
“I remember thinking during that moment that nothing else had ever brought me this much joy, and that the years of study I had put in, to now be in the privileged position of helping bring life into the world, were definitely worth it.
“Moments like that certainly reaffirm my decision to be a doctor.”
Sinead’s journey is a testament to the impact of innovative programs like the SEM model and the dedication required to thrive in rural general practice.
Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring doctors, showcasing the rewarding, albeit challenging, path of a rural GP.
As Sinead continues to build her career in Renmark, she remains committed to her vision of a healthcare system where GPs are the cornerstone of patient care.
“In five to ten years, I see myself deeply embedded in this community, leading the way in women’s health, and continuing to make a difference in the lives of my patients,” she says.
“For anyone considering general practice, especially in a rural setting, I say go for it. The rewards far outweigh the challenges.”
Renmark photo by Zac Edmonds
