Head Medical's Big Trip
08 Apr 2011
New Zealand is a long way away, in fact it is an 18,500km trip from Head’s Scottish office, however with its overwhelming natural beauty and unique Kiwi culture, we know it’s more than worth the journey. The majority of us have spent time in New Zealand in previous incarnations however two years after starting Head Medical, during which time we have placed in excess of 80 doctors from the UK, Europe and the US into jobs in New Zealand, our Director and Regulatory Manager, Anna Payne and Gemma Brydon felt it was high time to revisit NZ. Over 16 days in March, they travelled the length and breadth of the North Island, meeting employers and international Doctors who have now settled in New Zealand.
Says Anna, “This was a fantastic opportunity both to strengthen existing relationships with employers and to review the experiences of those who have made the move over there, so that we continue to offer both the best selection of jobs as well as the very best after care in terms of practically assisting people to move and settle. We met with almost every public hospital on the North Island as well as spent time with Immigration and the NZ Medical Council. It wasn’t all work and no play however and in between meetings we enjoyed just a few of the many delights NZ has to offer. From cruising Auckland harbour and waterside fine dining to ease the jet lag on arrival, sailing and swimming with wild dolphins in Northland, bathing in geothermal mud in Rotorua, experiencing the Haka up close, local wine and cheese tasting on the Eastern cape, horse trekking in beautiful Hawkes Bay, touring the Surf Highway in Taranaki, café culture in Palmerston North through to taking advantage of the excellent shopping and nightlife in Wellington we certainly made the most of our spare time.
Despite the glorious sunshine and the many beautiful places we visited, what impressed us most (and has ensured that New Zealand will stay close to our hearts and we’ll return time and time again) was the openness and friendliness of the people we met. Visitors are wholeheartedly welcomed into the community, just one example of this is a doctor and her family arriving in NZ from Sweden during winter being brought firewood chopped by a senior hospital manager on a cold weekend morning. The welcome and reception we were given by the people we work with over there was wonderful and for that we thank them and it is our pleasure to continue to recruit doctors to work in this special place. We have always believed it to be a hugely positive move but this has now been proven by meeting the many doctors we have assisted to relocate there who have stayed on (even if originally they did not plan to) and now truly feel ‘Kiwi’.”
If you’re considering a move, talk to Head Medical, we can tell you how it really is. Our clients like dealing with us because we are in this for the long term, we are totally honest with job seekers, helping them make appropriate and informed choices, meaning they settle and stay. Whether you fancy working in a tertiary centre or a small community hospital we can talk through the merits of various jobs and locations and give you the low down on life down under, based on our own experiences, as well as putting you in contact with doctors in your field we have already helped make the move.
New Zealand employers are currently recruiting;
- GPs
- Radiologists
- Psychiatrists
- Anaesthetists
- Oncologists
- Physicians (Generalists & sub-specialised)
- Surgeons
- Paediatricians
- Intensive Care Specialists
- Emergency Medicine doctors
- Registrars & GP Trainees
- House Officers
- Obstetricians & Gynaecologists