Dr Scott Deller has come on board as a general practitioner after a placement in outback Queensland and Dr Anil Xavier comes with sub-specialty expertise in kidney care.

“I am what is known as a procedural rural generalist — an old-fashioned rural doc,” Dr Dellar said.

“I wish I had known about this role two years ago as it suits me perfectly.”

Dr Xavier completed his medical training in India before moving to the UK to complete his post-graduate training and recently worked at Belfast, Northern Ireland.

He will be able to assess complex nephrology patients at Portland before they are transferred to larger centres for treatment.

Discussions are under way to formalise a relationship with Geelong specialists.

“Portland is good and the people have been wonderful and welcoming,” he said.

Dr Xavier’s wife is completing her training as a paediatrician and hopes to work at Active Health Portland.

Meanwhile, Portland District Health’s inaugural mid-year fund-raising campaign has been given a $10,000 kickstart by a local resident.

The donation was used to buy an electric examination bed and a video laryngoscope.

“They wanted to give something back to the hospital,” PDH chief executive Chris Giles said.

“Medical equipment and technology moved forward at such a pace it is difficult to keep up.”