Locum at Parkes Hospital, NSW
About Parkes Hospital
Parkes Hospital, part of the Lachlan Health Service, is a modern rural health facility located in central-west New South Wales. Opened in 2015, the hospital provides a broad spectrum of acute and community-based services to a catchment area of over 12,000 people.
Key facts about Parkes Hospital
Hours and On-call
- ED Day: 0745 - 1815
- ED Night: 1800-0800
- Ward: 0800 - 1700
Location:
Parkes Hospital, WNSW
Payment Frequency:
- V-Money
Orientation
All locums must complete NSW Health’s HETI mandatory training Orientation and clinical handover occur at the beginning and end of each shift Training includes ALS, eMR, eMeds, and Between the Flags
Why work at Parkes Hospital
This is a good spot for confident, self-sufficient doctors who want to make a real impact. There are no registrars, so you’ll need to work independently — but the nursing and allied health teams are solid, and there's always an ED doctor on-site. You won’t be micromanaged, and your input will actually matter.
It’s also a chance to build your rural generalist skill set — across ED and inpatient care — and to step into teaching or leadership roles if that interests you. On top of that, Parkes has a strong community feel, a bit of character, and a relaxed pace that many doctors end up loving.
The facilities and services at Parkes Hospital
- 27-bed inpatient unit with maternity, surgical, medical, palliative, and high-observation capacity
- 5-bed Emergency Department with dedicated resuscitation bay
- Surgical theatre (general, scopes, gynaecology)
- Pathology, medical imaging, and pharmacy on-site
- Dialysis, Hospital in the Home, rehab, oncology, ambulatory care
- Visiting services include psychiatry, oncology, and podiatry
Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations
Parkes Hospital sees a mix of presentations in its Emergency Department, ranging from low-acuity cases through to high-acuity trauma and complex medical scenarios. Doctors working here can expect variety — from managing walk-in patients and chronic conditions to stabilising acute emergencies before transfer if needed.
Inpatient responsibilities typically include ward rounds, discharge planning, reviewing pathology and imaging, and post-operative care. With no registrars on site, the complexity of care is often handled directly by the attending doctor, making it important for locums to feel confident in their clinical decision-making and time management.
Staffing Levels
- Each role is filled by one doctor per shift
- Additional support from nursing staff and multidisciplinary teams
- Opportunities to supervise students and junior doctors
- No registrars onsite—locums must be confident working independently
Hospital team and culture:
The hospital fosters a team-based, respectful workplace culture. Locum doctors are well supported by nursing, allied health, and admin teams and are integrated quickly into the daily workflow through comprehensive handovers.
Mental health support:
Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror
Impact on local community:
As a locum at Parkes, your contribution directly supports high-quality rural healthcare delivery to a large catchment area. Your presence ensures continuity of care and relieves pressure on the permanent medical workforce.
Accommodation details:
A private property is provided
Things to see & do in Parkes:
Located in the heart of NSW’s central west, Parkes is known for its world-famous Parkes Radio Telescope and lively Elvis Festival. The town offers a great mix of heritage charm, modern amenities, and natural beauty. Enjoy boutique cafes, wide open spaces, and a strong sense of community—all just a short flight or drive from Sydney.
DNA Healthcare success stories
Genuine and unfiltered review: I am a Registered Nurse and have worked with multiple agencies. However, I have never felt as amazed as I do with the contract I am currently on with DNA Nursing Agency. Both Aruna and Sophie are wonderful. Since my first day with the agency, Aruna has consistently checked in to make sure I am doing well and addressed any issues I might have. No matter if it’s the weekend, she always answers my calls and happily resolves any concerns.
Nurse
DNA Medical Recruitment & Team members have been amazing to work with. Excellent services of support provided from start to finish for all of my contracts.
Special thank you to Martin! His professionalism has been exceptional. Martin’s positive encouragement and support given me the confidence to apply for and helped with new contracts. Always prompt, friendly and approachable to accommodate any needs.
Nurse
Good experience with DNA. Will and Andrew with whom I have dealt with work extremely hard to help finalise locums, very reliable and good communicators.
Doctor
If you are thinking about commencing a travel nurse journey, then I can highly recommend Lucy and the Team at DNA. I had tried on and off for almost 12mths and then it was Lucy who was able to secure my role in Tasmania.
The knowledge from the outset and the assistant along the way has been incredible. Nothing is too much trouble and the team are only ever a phone call/email away
Nurse
Chloe from DNA is an excellent recruiter. She communicates clearly from start to finish and provides constructive feedback and preparation for the interview. Her support was instrumental in making the experience both memorable and positive for me. I highly recommend hiring or leveraging her expertise.
Nurse
I have been with DNA Recruitment for almost a year now and my agent Ciara has been nothing but helpful along the way. She made the initial move to Australia less daunting and has always been there ready and willing to answer any of my questions. She’s locked in every nursing contract I have wanted, has taken the stress away and honestly has made my life so much easier. Thank you Ciara for being so amazing!
Nurse
I had a wonderful experience with DNA Recruitment Healthcare Agency. The agency is professional, supportive, and provides excellent opportunities for healthcare professionals.
I would especially like to acknowledge Aruna, who guided me throughout my entire journey. Aruna helped me with every step, from finding the right opportunities to settling into my nursing contract. She is extremely kind, polite, and always cooperative. Her support, encouragement, and positive attitude made a big difference in my experience.
Nurse
Beverley is the best agent for me – she responds efficiently, goes above and beyond in finding me the most suitable shifts, checks up on me to make sure I’m okay almost daily and you can tell she genuinely wants the best for you. Thank you so much, Beverley, for making everything so smooth for me!
Doctor
