What a whirlwind 2021 was, with the constant threat of COVID that never truly developed.
For BDITS it was a monstrous year with an incredible list of achievements, and a strengthening of the Society that we hope has established it in solid foundations to see it through for many years to come.
We created a constitution and became recognised as an incorporated association.
We formed a kick ass, enthusiastic committee, and the rest, as they say, is history.
What followed was 11 events, including 5 welcome drinks, 2 fabulous cocktail nights and 4 highly supported Education nights. We organised 50 afternoon teas, an AMA lunch, and a collaborative Welcome Drinks for the new Bunbury Hospital team of 2022. Scattered amongst all the planning and organising, we attended countless meetings including the heads of department, the medical advisory council, the DITs and Exec meeting, the Clinical Representatives meeting and the wellbeing meetings.
We assisted and supported with having the Doctors Common Room re-freshed, we helped create the Wellbeing and De-briefing Group, and we finally got a Hospital wide SMS system up and running.
We have passionately and unapologetically advocated for the Doctors in Training at Bunbury Hospital, we have advocated for more accountability from Medical admin, we have raised concerns about the safety of the medical ward, we have applied pressure to provide more support for our WBA candidates, the development of the observership and Level 1 RMO positions, and most recently advocated for better pay for extra shifts picked up by employed staff.
All of this was underpinned by a passion for Rural medicine, for recognising the incredible opportunities that Bunbury and Bunbury Hospital have to offer and for nurturing a sense of community and relationships amongst health professionals in the South West region.
I am honoured to be handing over the reigns to an incredible committee and in particular to E and Dean who have been amazingly supportive and committed over the past year and who I have no doubt are going to lead the new committee to further enriching the lives of the Doctors in Training in the Southwest over the course of 2022.