Dr David Merefield

Medical practitioner with specialist training in anaesthesia and intensive care.

Dr David Merefield graduated as a doctor from the University of Queensland in 1977, and after internship in Brisbane, practiced in rural Queensland until 1984. He moved to England for anaesthetic training, gaining a Diploma of Anaesthetics from the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1986. On return to Australia, he worked in rural Queensland as a Medical Superintendent, and Flying Anaesthetist, before settling in Bundaberg in 1987. He combined general and anaesthetic practice until 1997, including being a Visiting Medical Officer in anaesthesia at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. He has been in full time anaesthesia practice at both private hospitals in Bundaberg since 1997, providing anaesthesia for all types of surgery, including obstetrics.

Dr Merefield has had a long standing interest in anaesthesia training for rural doctors, and served on the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA) for 20 years, six of those as chairman. He is currently Chair of Medical Advisory Committee for the Friendly Society Private Hospital. He is a 30 year member of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, and undertakes continuing professional development with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Outside anaesthesia, his interests include surf life saving, polar medicine and sports medicine.