Dr Claire Etheridge’s love of all areas of medicine led her to a career as a country GP. Dr Etheridge, who works at Mount Gibraltar General Practice in Bowral, enjoys the variety of her work and educating her patients about maintaining good health.
How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in Bowral/the Wingecarribee Shire?
I’ve been in practice in Bowral since I started as a GP registrar in 2013. I’ve done all of my GP training in the area, mostly at Bowral Street Medical Practice which is now Highlands General Practice. I qualified in 2016 as a fully qualified specialist general practitioner. I’ve really only worked here the whole time I’ve been a GP.
When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP?
I’d always wanted to be a GP ever since I was a very small child, or I knew I wanted to be a doctor. During medical school I enjoyed doing everything, so the most logical choice was to be a generalist. Being a GP also meant I could live in the country which is what I’d always planned to do. I found Coast City Country Training, which at that stage was the training provider for the Southern Highlands. It was a perfect spot for me and my family because my husband could work in the city and I could work in the country.
What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?
Seeing a different problem with every patient, meeting a pregnant patient and running through their pregnancy, then meeting their baby and seeing their baby grow up. Also the other end of the spectrum, helping people as they get older to stay independent and helping people who are reaching the end of their lives stay at home. I enjoy being able to work in the hospital when I want to, being able to assist with surgeries when I want to, being able to do procedures. I much prefer being a country GP than a city GP because I can do all those different things.
What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community?
Care – we really care about our patients. It’s not so much a job as a calling.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I work three jobs so I don’t have a lot of spare time! I’ve been a musician in the local symphony orchestra, I’m a gamer so I also play computer games and I have a motorbike. I also like to hang out with my kids and to travel. I really miss travel – I love to do that.
Tell me about your ideal work day…
My ideal workday would be full of interesting procedures to do, catching up with lots of my favourite patients and seeing them improve, and meeting some of the babies I’ve helped care for and seeing how they’re growing up. I also like helping to educate someone on how to improve their own health –so lifestyle and preventative care.
What do you love most about Bowral / the Wingecarribee Shire?
I really enjoy how all the doctors work together. We provide a really good after hours service. Pre-COVID we had some of the best education and collegial activities that I’ve ever seen. It’s a little bit different post COVID, but hopefully it’ll come back someday. That’s what I really enjoy, as well as the lifestyle – country close to the city close to the coast.
What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?
Keep active, eat real food and don’t be scared to chat to your GP about ways you can improve your lifestyle, your health and wellness.