$21m Macarthur Clinical School to train more local doctors after opening at Campbelltown Hospital

More locally born and bred doctors will be trained and work in our region to deliver the best possible care to patients following the opening of the $21 million state-of-the-art Macarthur Clinical School at Campbelltown Hospital.

Community leaders including Jai Rowell, Peter Shergold, Brad Hazzard, Uncle Ivan Wellington, Chris Patterson, Prof Annemarie Hennessy, Amanda Larkin, Prof Barney Glover, Greg Warren and George Brticevic attended the official opening of the $21 million Macarthur Clinical School. Pictures: Ian Svegovic

MORE locally born and bred doctors will be trained and work in our region to deliver the best possible care to patients following the opening of the $21 million state-of-the-art Macarthur Clinical School at Campbelltown Hospital.

Purpose-built over four storeys, the school is a joint project between South Western Sydney Local Health District, Western Sydney University and the State Government.

The $21 million Macarthur Clinical School at Campbelltown Hospital.

The clinical school, which was officially opened today by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, is one of the key training sites for the School of Medicine.

It also marks a significant milestone for the School of Medicine, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Students receive hands-on clinical experience and mentoring by the hospital’s senior specialists and other health professionals from their first year.

The school also houses Campbelltown Hospital’s postgraduate training unit for nursing and allied health professionals.

Western Sydney University School of Medicine dean Prof Annemarie Hennessy said staff and students could not be prouder of the new clinical school and the 10-year milestone.

Since its first intake of 100 medical students in 2007, the School of Medicine has produced some 670 doctors, including 18 from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

Up to 70 per cent of graduates have stayed on to complete their internships at hospitals in western Sydney.

South Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Amanda Larkin said talks began with Western Sydney University in the early 2000s about establishing the school.

“Great foresight and vision has created this school, and (Prof) Brad Frankum was part of that planning panel,’’ she said.

Ms Larkin said the school grouped together education, clinical practice, training and research and this would grow health services in the south west and benefit patients and the community.

“Campbelltown Hospital is in good stead to become a centre for cutting-edge health care delivered by some of the very best doctors not only in the state, but on a global scale,’’ she said.

She also praised Campbelltown Hospital’s $632 million stage two upgrade, which is currently underway.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the clinical school was the epitome of what could be done with the right partnerships.

The Macarthur Clinical School opening included a welcome by Aboriginal elder Uncle Ivan Wellington.

It was also attended by community leaders including Campbelltown State Labor MP Greg Warren, Camden State Liberal MP Chris Patterson, Wollondilly State Liberal MP Jai Rowell and Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic.