Since 2006 students have trained at the Mersey Community Hospital (MCH). The Rural Clinical School (RCS) at Mersey is located within the MCH on the second floor and staffed by Mrs Maggie Lea.
The MCH provides support for medical and nursing undergraduate clinical training, enrolled nurse training, postgraduate clinical training and access to continuing professional education and support.
Recently, the RCS facilities at the MCH underwent a $1.5million re-development to create the Mersey Centre of Excellence. Funding for the re-development was secured by the successful application for a Rural Education Infrastructure Development (REID) grant which was developed by the North West Area Health Service, Tasmanian Polytechnic and the RCS.
The aim of the Centre is to serve the teaching and learning needs of students, junior doctors and postgraduate students in the region.
Funding of the Centre is part of an Australia-wide program to provide capital works and infrastructure to improve health training opportunities in regional and rural areas, and to assist in the recruitment and retention of clinical staff in these areas.
The new Centre will provide top quality training facilities and extend training opportunities for a range of health professionals and students in the region. The Centre of Excellence will be located at Level 2, Block C at Mersey Community Hospital.
Building works were completed at end of August 2011. The official opening is expected to take place in November 2011.
The new Centre features: