RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICERS' UNIT

Older Persons Health

Older Persons Health provides a comprehensive range of geriatric and old age psychiatry services. This includes assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, psychogeriatric care, community assessment and consult liaison.

The clinicians in the department have a wealth of clinical and academic experience which has enabled a number of innovative services to be developed such as a dedicated Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, an Orthogeriatric service and a Delirium Service, a Memory Clinic and a Psychiatry of Old Age Academic Unit.

The service is based at The Princess Margaret Hospital with 117 inpatient beds over 5 wards for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation and 40 inpatient beds for psychogeriatrics. In addition there are two Day Hospitals, one each for the medical and psychogeriatric services and large Community Services. There are 11 geriatricians and 7 psychogeriatricians.

There are 8 House Officers for each three month rotation and 10 Medical Registrars on four month rotations. These runs provide excellent teaching opportunities in both geriatric and general medicine and there are regular departmental education sessions.

The department is recognised as being an excellent place for Advanced Trainees in Geriatric Medicine to train. We offer a one to two year training program, for up to three trainees each year, providing clinical exposure to the many different aspects of the specialty. You will gain experience in both inpatient, outpatient and community settings and have the opportunity to attend specialist clinics such as Parkinson’s Clinic, Memory Clinic and Bone Clinic. There are opportunities to pursue research projects in all these areas. In addition there is a monthly education session which covers the core subjects of geriatric medicine.

The department is also recognised as an excellent training centre for Old Age Psychiatry. We offer a two year training programme for one Advanced Trainee at a time. Again, this includes experience across all part of the service. There is also one Inpatient Psychiatry Junior Registrar post, another split 50% with Consultation-Liaison covering Older Persons C/L and one Inpatient House Officer position, which is highly regarded and includes excellent supervision.

For further information please contact:

Dr Jeff Kirwan, Clinical Director, telephone: 64 (03) 337 7899
Email: jeff.kirwan@cdhb.govt.nz

Dr Sarah Lynn, RMO Supervisor, telephone: 64 (03) 337 7899
Email: sarah.lynn@cdhb.govt.nz