After 20 years as medical secretary and more than 40 years in total working for the health and well-being of local residents, Bev Welsh has packed away her uniform for retirement.
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The local lady has taken long service leave before retiring as the medical secretary at Scone Medical Practice, an organisation she has loved working in for the past 20 years.
Working directly with the medical staff, Mrs Welsh has fulfilled the roles of medical typing, organising referrals, specialist referrals and investigations for patients.
Although she was originally a local girl, Mrs Welsh has come to know a lot of people throughout the years and felt satisfied in being able to assist them in their health.
Mrs Welsh said her job has always been a busy full time position and it wasn’t a job she felt she could job share, as she needed to keep up with what was happening.
“I really liked the pace of the role though and I think I will miss being busy.
“Each day was completely different as you had to prioritise the work around the demands in the practice from urgent to non-urgent matters,” Mrs Welsh said.
Prior to being offered the position at the practice, Mrs Welsh worked in administration at the Scott Memorial Hospital for 21 years, so she has been employed in the local health system for more than 40 years.
Since working at the practice, Mrs Welsh has witnessed changes in doctors and staff, however she said the biggest major change was the move into the new building 10 years ago.
In the old surgery, the medical secretary shared an office with the practice manager, but the new centre allowed for much more space and convenience.
Mrs Welsh said the new practice was a very good thing for the people of Scone.
“It gives the doctors more comfortable conditions to work in and allows allied health to be integrated into the practice.
“It also improved my role as a lot of specialists such as physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists now come to the practice, which has also helped the people of the area,” Mrs Welsh said.
“It has made it so much better to deal with the public and better for the public as they don’t have to travel away.
“Over the years, Scone people have been very fortunate to have the number of doctors we’ve had which has been largely due to involvement in registrar training as a number of doctors have returned back to Scone after completing their training here.
“I think this speaks well of the practice and the community,” she said.
Mrs Welsh said she will miss the contact with the public, however she is looking forward to taking vacations with her husband Richard and getting more involved in activities with her grandchildren.
“I have enjoyed working with my colleagues and it has always been an enjoyable working environment,” she said.
“The communication between staff and doctors has always been of a high level.
“I have always woken up and wanted to go to work.”