Outdoor lifestyle the perfect prescription for Warrnambool hospital recruit

WHEN it comes to a choice between the city or the coastal beauty of Warrnambool, it’s a no-brainer for South African Franco Schreve.

“The lifestyle here is much better, the outdoor activities are just brilliant,” the doctor said yesterday.

Dr Schreve is South West Healthcare’s new director of emergency services at the Warrnambool Base Hospital.

He revealed he fell in love with Warrnambool and the region after commuting from Melbourne over the past 15 months as a locum doctor in the emergency department.

“I did the short-term locum here and it was a very pleasant experience, a very friendly environment with both the staff and patients,” he said.

“It was just a very refreshing experience.”

Dr Schreve started in the role earlier this month and is aiming to further lift the quality of service in the region’s biggest emergency department.

“It’s been very new to me. I’ve mainly been involved in the clinical side of things and it’s been exciting to get involved in the administration side of things,” Dr Schreve said

“I’m just very excited to be here and to be in the role. It’s a very new experience for me and I’m looking forward to trying to provide a high quality service, to expand the staff base and improve and maintain the great patient experience here.”

Originally from South Africa, Dr Schreve worked in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia in 2006. 

An avid mountain bike rider, he has found that the local activities and amenities are well suited to his lifestyle. 

SWH centre for rural emergency medicine director, associate professor Tim Baker is already impressed with the new recruit. 

“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Dr Franco Schreve as our full-time director,” he said

“Having worked as a specialist emergency physician in rural hospitals and urban tertiary hospitals, and with aeromedical retrieval services, he has the experience to lead the newest stage of our emergency department development.”