PORT Macquarie Base Hospital's 20th anniversary should be a celebration for the whole town.
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That's the view of staff specialist paediatrician Dr David McDonald.
He said the 20th anniversary was an opportunity for everyone in the Port Macquarie community to celebrate the fact this was their hospital.
Dr McDonald, who was a visiting medical officer at the hospital 20 years ago, recalls the "quite challenging" transfer of patients from Hastings District Hospital to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
A baby on 100 per cent oxygen was among the patients transferred between the two sites.
"The logistics of transferring safely from the old site to the new site went really well," he said.
Dr McDonald described the move between hospitals as a kind of evolutionary step, and said the most recent evolutionary step was the first stage opening of the hospital expansion.
"I think the most important thing is we still greatly need the support of the community," he said.
Dr McDonald praised the community support in all its forms including patient support for the teaching program, and he praised the community within the hospital as well.
"The hospital is a lot more, in my view, than just doctors and nurses - it's everyone," he said.
"It's a great community and it's not just about "frontline staff".
"There is enormous cohesion between the clinical staff and also the really crucial support staff."
Dr McDonald said the philosophy behind the hospital for each staff member was a personal commitment to excellence.
The staff specialist paediatrician believes he has the best job in the world.
