Dr Ismail has been officially appointed as the new doctor for Murrurundi and has been welcomed to the region by the Murrurundi community, Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) and the Upper Hunter Shire Council.

He also introduced himself to locals at the Murrurundi Australia Day celebrations on Tuesday.

Dr Ismail is replacing Dr William Redmayne who left Murrurundi in December.

He will work primarily at Murrurundi, caring for patients at Wilson Memorial

Community Hospital as well as providing General Practitioner (GP) services from newly renovated rooms at Murrurundi’s Rural Transaction Centre.

He has also offered to work occasional shifts at the Scott Memorial Hospital at Scone and he will support Murravale Nursing Home.

Dr Ismail will do his first shifts at the Scone hospital emergency department this weekend on Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31, and will then have his first work day at Murrurundi’s Wilson Memorial Community Hospital on Tuesday, February 2.

Upper Hunter Shire Council mayor Lee Watts said she had no doubt Dr Ismail would be warmly welcomed into the Murrurundi community.

“The Upper Hunter Shire Council is pleased to have been able to assist the community in attracting the services of Dr Ismail to Murrurundi,” Cr Watts said.

“He is a highly credentialed doctor, experienced in general practice in rural towns in NSW and we would like to offer him a sincere welcome to our shire,” she said.

Upper Hunter Cluster general manager Dr Debbie Jaggers said the recruitment of Dr Ismail was a huge coup for the local community.

“Recruitment to rural areas has been difficult for many years, so it is wonderful news that

Dr Ismail has relocated to Murrurundi, bringing a caring and committed approach to his work as a doctor,” Dr Jaggers said.

“Our staff in Murrurundi and Scone are genuinely excited about working with Dr Ismail and supporting him in any way possible.”