SDHB now seeking new medical staff overseas
THE Southern District Health Board’s overseas recruiting drive is continuing.
Nurses have now joined junior doctors on the list of staff it is seeking offshore.
Every DHB in New Zealand is competing for staff to fill those roles after contract settlements with both junior doctors and nurses resulted in a commitment to implement safe staffing rosters.
Under the August agreement to end the nurses’ pay dispute, DHBs were given $38 million for immediate staffing requirements.
The SDHB was allocated $2.46 million as its share.
It initially attempted to recruit locally, SDHB people, culture and technology executive director Mike Collins said.
‘‘A generic recruitment campaign in July has resulted in an increase in the number of candidates applying to work with us and an increase in positions being filled in a shorter timeframe.’’
However, with all 20 DHBs trying to hire nurses locally, the net had been cast wider.
‘‘Southern DHB recruitment representatives have attended career events in the UK and Ireland in September to attract candidates, particularly returning New Zealanders, for all nursing disciplines, as well as midwifery, allied health and medical professions.
‘‘Some excellent candidates were interviewed and are now being followed up with the appropriate services across the DHB.’’
The SDHB had also advertised nursing roles in Australia.
Mr Collins said the trip had secured many new doctors for the South.
‘‘Our recent recruitment campaigns in the UK have resulted in us employing 15 new doctors to date, seven of whom have already started work.
‘‘The remaining will join Southern DHB during the next few months.’’