Saudi Arabian posts for Chch doctors

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 6

Saudi Arabian posts for Chch doctors

Two Christchurch general practitioners have been appointed to senior medical teaching posts at the King Faisal University in the ■ Saudi Arabian city of Damimam. Dr Selwyn Carson and Dr Andrew Hunter, two senior I partners of the Christchurch [South Health Centre since [1960, were asked to take up ;the posts of associate processors in community medicine at the university by a I former member of the staff ;of the Otago Medical School, i Professor Ashley Aitken, who is now professor of community medicine at Dammam. Dr Carson and Dr Hunter will be responsible for setting up the first community - based general practice in Saudi Arabia. This will be used to train medical students and graduates in the principles of general practice. It will be the first of 1020 general practices that the Saudis plan to set up by 1985. Dr Hunter was born and educated in Christchurch, but went to Scotland for his initial medical training, which he completed in 1952. He worked in the United States and Canada before taking over a solo general practice in Christchurch in 1954. The Christchurch South Health Centre was one of the first health centres in the country to combine the skills of general practitioners, social workers, practise nurses, and a wide range of

visiting medical specialists. The centre also is used as a base for many other social agencies, such as legal aid. Eight doctors work at the centre and this has always included one doctor training in general practice. Dr Carson, who has been in general practice for 24 years in Christchurch, is regarded as a pioneer in training for general practitioners. His “Manual on General Practice” is used widely in New Zealand and has also been published in Britain and Australia. The development and publication of this manual is now undertaken by Colleges of General Practitioners throughout New Zealand. Both doctors will take their wives to Saudi Arabia. Dr Carson said yesterday that it was gratifying for New Zealand general practitioners for positions to have been offered to him and his colleague. “Our appointment, we believe, has recognised that general practitioners are not only versed in hospital medicine but are now trained in all aspects of primary care including behavioural and social aspects,” he said. The appointments also emphasise the importance which the Saudi authorities attached to the need to have training for general practice based on teaching by general practitioners. The two doctors will leave Christchurch this morning and will take up the new posts next week.