New Zealand

Working as a salaried doctor in New Zealand has opened my eyes to a healthcare system which shares many features of the NHS but is also part private. There is not a “free at the point of care” model and this is mostly felt within general practice where by the patient pays a small amount to be able to see the GP.

Working in this part private system was challenging at first but eventually I did feel there were quite a few positives. It challenged me to be more efficient in my practice, ensure that appointments were not wasted for the patient and also provide a high degree of patient satisfaction.

I worked in a Maori focussed healthcare centre, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, whereby I had an approximate list size of 1150 patients. The patient population was classified as a “high needs population” and there was a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and mental health problems. With a greater focus and necessity to managing chronic illnesses more within primary care, my skills and experience of managing difficult patients greatly improved whilst in New Zealand.

I would encourage all doctors to consider working and living in New Zealand and would be happy to offer more of my thoughts and details on how to make the move. Please feel free to contact me.