Now on the verge of retiring from general practice the years David Sanders dedicated to delivering babies in Singleton Hospital, all 5000 of them and counting, has been recognised.
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Last week Dr Sanders who has lived and worked in Singleton for 39 years received a certificate in recognition of this work by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
It was the first time the College has awarded certificates in recognition of 35 years work in their specialty and it was a special moment for Dr Sanders who has loved being a GP, a rural obstetrician and anesthetist for many years and even in retirement he thinks he might keep going by considering working as a locum in rural Australia.
He and his wife Rosita are planning some trips away but are not contemplating a move from Singleton as they have many friends in the community and enjoy the social life that Singleton offers which includes their support of Red Cross events.
Dr Sanders undertook his obstetric and anesthetic training on England having spent three years working at Hornsby Hospital once he completed his medical degree.
It was on his return from England that he took up the position in Singleton and has remained ever since working along side other doctors delivering the district's babies.
"By my reckoning that figure is at least 5000 and of course I regularly deliver babies whose mother I delivered, " he said.
"It has been a wonderful community to live and work in and I have enjoyed a very rewarding career."
Commenting the changes he has seen in this working life he said today medical practice was much more evidence based which was a good thing.
One the things he would like to see change was the need for medical staff at major teaching hospitals to obtain a better appreciation of the facilities and skills on offer at a country hospital like Singleton.
He also spoke about the impacts of specialist midwife training and how that caused some issues at country hospitals saying it may be better to have a rural generalist training for nurses who could perform both nursing and midwifery rather than one or the other.
He expects to see demand for the services at Singleton Hospital to continue to grow as the population particularly in Branxton-Greta area increases.
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Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
