Visiting medical officers recognised

East Grampians Health Service recognised two of its Visiting Medial Officers for long service at the Open Access Board Meeting in November.

Dr Charles Reid was awarded for 35 years’ service to East Grampians Health Service.

Dr Reid was born in the UK, trained at Liverpool University and worked in general practice on Merseyside until moving to Australia in 1986.

Settling in the district 35 years ago, Dr Reid said Ararat was a great town with great people and facilities and he was grateful for the relationship that Ararat Dental has with East Grampians Health Service, allowing patients access to general anaesthetics when needed.

Dr Reid initiated voluntary work in the Solomon Islands, which he finds enjoyable and rewarding.

Outside dentistry Dr Reid enjoys swimming and cycling, and he has committed to again participate in the Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay and fundraising for EGHS next year.

EGHS also awarded Dr Neil Provis-Vincent for his 25 years’ service to the health service.

Dr Provis-Vincent was awarded a Bachelor of Medical Science with first class honours in 1987 for his thesis entitled ‘The Role of Zinc in Human Liver Disease’ before completing his medical degrees in 1988.

Dr Provis-Vincent moved with his family to Skipton in 1991 and worked as an assistant in rural general practice for one year before commencing in solo rural general practice in St Arnaud where he worked for five years. While working in St Arnaud Dr Provis-Vincent undertook training in anaesthetics which he completed in 1994, and in 1997 he started travelling to Ararat from St Arnaud once a fortnight to provide anaesthetics for EGHS.

He relocated to Ararat and joined Ararat Medical Centre from 1998 until 2002, but left general practice to pursue full-time anaesthetic work and continued to develop interests in paediatric anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia and perioperative medicine.

Dr Provis-Vincent completed a Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Medicine this year and was recently appointed to the position of EGHS Director of Anaesthetics and Perioperative Medicine.

Both medical officers were congratulated for their service to EGHS by Board Chair Ken Weldin.

Mr Weldin said the health service was fortunate to attract visiting medical officers of the calibre of Dr Reid and Dr Provis-Vincent.