Client and Candidate Testimonials
Comments from some of the employers & doctors already working with us will help you to know what to expect:
Candidates
"Everything is perfect with me and I really like it here – job, people, nature, accommodation. The Medical Director and the Recruitment Manager, who you have had contact with are fantastic in every respect. So far, I have worked at the surgery with sit ins in the morning and own patients in the afternoon. Bruce is a good mentor, works very similar to me and we laugh at the same things. I have about 3-4 km to my job and walk along the beach. The photo was taken one morning, on my way to the surgery. In spite of sun it is still quite cold, especially during the night." Dr Ted Goliger, Timaru, New Zealand, September 2011
"My impressions of Australia and this area so far are extremely good. The health system is very different to the UK's, but the induction the practice are providing is excellent. As you said, Halls Head is a gorgeous area and I'll be looking for a place to stay there. I really want to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work and patience in dealing with me, you have both done a marvellous job in getting me across the world to Aussie. My first impressions of Perth are: oh yeah! So thank you both so much and I will keep you informed of my progress". Dr Sammy Sharifeh, General Practitioner, Perth, WA (July 2011)
"The job is going well so far and is certainly keeping me busy. Thanks so much for all of your help in setting me up over here. Tauranga is really nice, just a pity I've ended up here in winter but you can't have everything! My experience dealing with Head Medical is all positive! When I decided to apply for a job in New Zealand you quickly found me several suitable options and set me up with an interview for the post I was most interested in. When I was offered this job in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, you provided fantastic support to guide me through the immigration process. Gemma's asistance went far beyond anything i would have expected! I complicated the entire process by travelling around Asia whilst trying to organise my immigration and registration but she managed to arrange for me to lodge applications on my way round and kept me up to date on everything via email. She was fantastic! I am now happily settled over here and everything ran smoothly. Thanks for all your help!!" Dr Anna Lewis, General Medicine Registrar, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (June 2011)
"I have only positive things to say about the staff at Head Medical. They found me suitable jobs, arranged my interviews and have helped considerably with my registration with AMC and AHPRA. In particular I'd like to thank Sharon and Gareth for all their help. I'd definitely recommend Head Medical." Dr Vinesh Mistry – SHO Emergency Medicine, Townsville, Queensland (June 2011)
"My visa has come through and it seems I will be heading off to Australia soon. I would like to give my sincere thanks to the team at Head Medical. You have seen me through the fairly complicated process with confidence, patience and sensitivity. You have always been approachable and easily contactable day or night. Emails were answered without delay and the quality of the advice has been outstanding. I have already recommended Head Medical to a colleague who is thinking of moving to Australia and I honestly cannot imagine what more Nicky, Gemma & Jennifer could have done to help me. They have my highest praise and thanks" Angelo Fortune, General Practitioner, New South Wales, (June 2011)
"Immigration is a big hurdle in anybody's life, I was an immigrant to the UK so I knew the difficulties and sometimes loneliness one experiences during the move. Head Medical’s staff are friendly and efficient people who made all the worries and difficulties look like nothing. I did not feel left on my own at any stage and the information they provided was excellent..." Dr Hossein Javaheri, General Practitioner, New South Wales (June 2011)
"I would definitely recommend Head Medical to doctors who are about to embark on moving to Oz. Apart from being personable and approachable, the team were professional and handled my enquiries very promptly. Head Medical were extremely competent team. The applications for registration and visas involve a great deal of paperwork and constant " to and fro ing" between various agencies in Australia however Head Medical handle most of the paperwork leaving you to get on with your normal day to day work. This was very important to me as I had an extremely busy life juggling motherhood and my day to day work as a sessional GP in Gloucestershire.. Moving is a stressful business but they are always at the end of the phone will try to help out in any way they can. You don't feel isolated when you arrive because they continue to support you and I have found them helpful, even when dealing with unique circumstances and issues outside of their immediate remit. I would not have come here without them and I would definitely recommend them to anyone seeking a new life and chapter in Australia" Dr Lorna Knight, General Practitioner, New South Wales (June 2011)
"Head Medical is the best! Before I contacted Head, I, as a Swedish doctor, had no clue that so much help could be provided for you. I thought it would just be connecting me with an employer. Instead, advice and assistance on every step of the way, from IELTS to having my licence and qualifications approved and a visa arranged…. and everything done in record time! Now I've been here for 3 weeks and I find the work load to be similar to what I'm used to in terms of hours, but we have to rely much more on our own clinical skill. People here are extremely friendly and sociable and the hospital recruiter couldn't have been more helpful, he'd actually bought groceries so I could have dinner and breakfast when I arrived. All doctors should take a year off at some point in their career and do something like this, and they will not find better help than the team at Head Medical" Dr Sophie af Klercker, Consultant General Medicine, Whanganui Hospital, New Zealand (May 2011)
"I am really enjoying the time here in Geelong. The practice is great and I am super busy. The decision of coming to Australia has been proven to be a fantastic one! Compared to life in the UK, I enjoy my work 1000 times more, I have full control about my working conditions; Days I don’t want to work, I just block out the times, no question asked! No audit, no team meetings, no home visits etc, and most importantly, I have huge respect from my patients!! For the first year, I decided not to take any long holidays and tried my best to build up my patient base and it is definitely paying off. I have not had an empty slot on my booking for months!!" Dr Shiu, GP, Geelong, Australia (April 2011)
"Thank you so much for all your kind advice, support and endless patience!! Your help has been invaluable in this whole process and I honestly would not have managed it without you. I will definitely recommend Head Medical to anyone who wants to make the move to Aus or NZ- you have been fantastic. Thanks once again!" Natasha Rae, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist. Justice Health, New South Wales, Australia (April 2011)
"From all 4 of us, can I just quickly thank you both for getting us to this all important stage. We are aware that we have been a pretty demanding and time consuming client but you have both been unfailingly patient, professional, friendly and accessible throughout and really an enormous practical (and on occasion, psychological!) support. We can't imagine having done this without you". Dr Leena Uppal, GP, Perth, Western Australia (February 2011)
"We've had a fabulous time touring the north island, knocked up a few thousand miles and managed to see lots from the far north to Wellington. It's beautiful. Managed to fit in a few skiing trips on north and south islands and Miles has become slightly obsessed with fishing which occasionally feeds us well. Almost forgot we were also here to work! Debbie and the rest of the team at Blenheim have given us a very warm welcome indeed. We have been truly spoilt with BBQs and treats. Still finding my feet as far as the wards are concerned, lots of new things to learn but there's a nice atmosphere in the hospital and the consultant is a very nice, clever man! Thank you to all at Head Medical who have made our move out to NZ as pain-free as possible. We are both very grateful for all the assistance you provided throughout the application process, from finding a suitable hospital to guiding us through the paperwork and ensuring that we met all necessary deadlines. We feel that Head Medical's greatest asset is the friendly and incredibly helpful staff who were always willing to help and keep us up to date at all times even down to the finer details of organising MCNZ interviews and sourcing suitable accommodation. We would certainly recommend Head Medical to anyone thinking about working abroad and will not hesitate to use them again in the future. Thanks again". Miles Wilks & Jo Thornton-Chan SHOs in Wairau Hospital, New Zealand, September 2010
"Just sending an email to let you know that we are all fine here! The house is just perfect and the kids are now fast asleep after another good day at school - both of them have now settled fine and enjoy it. They are both picking up the language quickly. Katri is making tea, a fire is burning in the fire place and I am actually on call. I am in the ICU Consultant on-call-group with a Registrar doing (most of) the job at the hospital. Which is good - so I can be at home drinking tea at the fireplace! Katri did her first day at work today. As we both knew - a lot of things are new and different here and takes some time to get used to, but all in all it is interesting, and stimulating. On the weekends we have started to enjoy the surroundings - it sure is a very beautiful area here! This weekend we went out to the coast where the beaches are just fantastic with lots of fun for the kids (and us) to run around collecting sea shells and listening to strange bird sounds from the forest nearby. We even managed to catch two fish (kahawai), which we had for dinner tonight. Hope you both are well! We will send you an email once in a while - you are both very much connected to this whole adventure! The help that we received from you during our preparations was invaluable, and this NZ move could not have been done without you - it is as simple as that! " Dr Erland Ostberg (ICU & Anaesthetics Consultant) & Dr Katri Ostberg (Consultant Radiologist) Swedish Doctors now employed at Whangarei Hospital, New Zealand (September 2010)
"In regards to quality of life and work life balance, I spend more time at home and will have 70% more time to spend with my family and 50% less work as compared to my old job in the UK. I will be renting a water front apartment in September with a fantastic view of the ocean and marina. I am training toward my recreational flying licence and tomorrow I have my recreational boats and Jet Ski licence. It really cannot get better than this and all thanks to everyone at Head Medical. It is worth the wait and I would recommend it to anyone." Dr Insar Hafeez, GP, Townsville, QLD (August 2010)
"It has been such a pleasure working with you (and your colleagues during your holiday)! You worked so patiently with me and listened to all of my specific needs/wants for New Zealand. With your help I feel I have landed the perfect job in NZ! I will be happy to work with you on future jobs in NZ and Australia after my year's assignment. Thanks so much from a very pleased client!!" Dr Nicole McGinty, GP, Taupo, New Zealand (July 2010)
"Where do I begin –but with what an excellent and highly efficient run organization. My experience with Head Medical for recruitment in Australia 2010 has been an excellent one! The staff at Head Medical are fantastic and I would definitely recommend this site to any junior/ senior doctors looking to further their career in medicine of any specialty away from home." Dr Gurmit Gill, SHO in Emergency Medicine, Brisbane, June 2010
"I always received full and complete advice from Head Medical on any question I raised and very reliable guidance throughout the entire process of searching for and starting a new job. The response by my recruiter was always very quick, information accurate and always tailored to my specific demands. My regulatory consultant also gave very good support in the process of gaining Medical registration. New Zealand is different from the U.K in many ways; The density of population and the total number of people living here, the different historical settings between Maori and European settlers, as well as the different scale of resources available, makes the medical practice quite different in practical terms. I definitely think it is worth reading some of the information booklets available before arriving, to gain an understanding of the moral and common sense aspects of NZ practice. I would strongly discourage anyone considering making the move from the UK to NZ to consider doing it independently, without expert's assistance. It is not only about a doctor's professional profile and a successful interview. There are many unexpected obstacles throughout the process of registration and relocation, that without well-structured assistance, could easily turn into disaster." Dr Martin Dvoracek, Consultant Anaesthetist & Intensivist, Dunedin, New Zealand (June 2010)
"Head Medical helped me to find a permanent position in as a GP in Sydney. They took the stress out of filling forms, applying for visas and negotiating with employers in Australia. This finally led to my position in a practice that both suits me as a doctor and the employing practice. I really think that I have found a 'good fit' and this will enable me to enjoy my time in Australia and further my career in General Practice" Dr R.Hall, GP, Sydney, Australia (April 2010)
"New Zealand is lovely! The job's great and the staff are really friendly. Thank you again for all that you've done and for all your hard work; from finding this position and organising an interview for me, right through to arranging the Medical Council interview and accommodation. Your team has been excellent in guiding me through the paperwork involved making the whole process seem easy - even for a form-phobic like me! I'm especially grateful for the visa and immigration information you provided to help my (non-medical) partner make the move with me. Every step was planned with ample time which made the transfer virtually stress-free. Throughout every stage of the process your friendly and enthusiastic team has been wonderful by keeping in touch regularly and being available to answer any questions that arose. Again, thank you for all that you have done. I would definitely recommend Head Medical!" Dr Kathleen Merrick, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Registrar, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, (January 2010)
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for all the hard work and great efficient communication I have had with Head Medical. Your services have been outstanding. I sincerely hope that we can work together in the future. Dr David Burrows, Consultant Radiologist, Canada (September 2009)
"Sharon was very helpful in finding us jobs in the fields we wanted and the location we wanted (near ski fields). She gave us advice and help on everything from applying for medical council registration to where to buy cars from. She kept track of what needed to be done and got on our backs/helped us when we hadn't filled the appropriate bit of paperwork in. NZ is great. Had a lovely holiday walking, skiing and kayaking before we started work. The principles of medicine are the same however people seem much more easy going here. There's even a cat (Norman) on one of the wards. The sun (even winter) and wine are a definite bonus. So far, highly recommended." Dr Patrick & Dr Sophie Burch, Senior House Officers, New Zealand (August 2009)
"We love it here, got a lot of help in the beginning so we got into everything really fast... We now have a rather large new house right on the beach with 3 large terraces to enjoy the fantastic view of Ohope Beach and the kids just love Trident High. They have got a lot of friends and seem to be quite popular.... Everyone is so nice friendly and helpful and workload is not so high. There are a lot of on calls, but the on calls are normally calm and they give a lot of extra money. We a have booked a trip to Fiji for September. I have been talking very well about you and Gemma and how good Head Medical is... You are fantastic to work with...." Dr Mats Carlson, O&G Consultant 12 month contract at Whakatane Hospital, New Zealand (August 2009)
"Thank you for all your help with arranging my current Locum Consultant post in Auckland, which is proving to be a very enjoyable break between completing training and taking up (hopefully!) a permanent Consultant post back in the UK, and a chance to visit those of our family who emigrated out here to New Zealand years ago. The service you provided was excellent and particular strengths were the frequent and personal contact with reassuring updates on how the necessary bureaucratic processes were progressing, and your practical advice on necessary essentials such as accommodation, travel within New Zealand, tips on driving, transferring money and so on. In future I will have no hesitation in recommending your services to any friend or colleague in the UK contemplating period working in New Zealand or Australia." Dr Andrew J M Broadley, Consultant Cardiologist (August 2009)
"Thank you for your understanding, and the advice…. I would be delighted to recommend this agency, in fact I can't speak highly enough of your service.... I used a recruitment agency when I last went to Australia, but although they were good, there was no comparison between them and the service you provide. Head Medical shows such dedication in getting to know their clients, and looking for something to meet one's needs. I will be more than happy to recommend you to anyone I know who is looking for work in Australia." Dr McInerney, Senior Registrar Forensic Psychiatry, Ireland (March 2009)
Clients
"I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you do for us. I shall shout your praises from the rooftops! The service of Head Medical is exemplary!" Dr Ahmad Risk, Medical Director, Kazakhstan (June 2011)
"Trying to recruit doctors is extremely difficult but Head Medical make the job a whole lot easier. Communication is clear and prompt. I have been extremely happy with my experience with Head Medical, especially Nicky Gregory. Thank you very much, you guys do a great job." Linda McColl, Practice Manager, Wyndham Health Centre, Victoria, Australia (June 2011)
"CareFlight Medical Services recruits advanced trainee registrars in emergency medicine, anaesthetics or intensive care as retrieval registrars working in the pre-hospital environment for minimum six month terms in six various locations throughout Queensland, Australia. In 2009 we contracted Head Medical to assist us with recruitment of doctors within the UK. Our experience so far has been that Head Medical, and particularly Sharon Dodds, have been extremely professional in their approach to our recruitment solutions, and have put forward several Doctors who meet our requirements. It is a pleasure to deal with such a professional organisation, who not only recruit doctors for us, but also handle the Immigration visa process and Australian Medical Council and Medical Board registration requirements." Ruth Northcott, Careflight, Clinical and Human Resources Manager, Australia(May 2010)
"Sharon thanks for all your help. From sourcing the doctors, to organising interviews, reference checks, all the paperwork for the Medical Council in a prompt and timely manner and ensuring that our Junior Doctors started on time. This is not always the case with overseas candidates, so its great to deal with an agency that gets it right. Hope we can work together in the future." Deborah Carter, RMO Co-Ordinator, Wairau Hospital, New Zealand (August 2009)
"Thanks for this Anna. I wish all agencies were as efficient as you have been. You provide a service and deliver on what you say you will do. You have always responded promptly to my requests. What can I say, it is great working with you!" Charles Hunt, Recruitment Manager, Taranaki District Health Board, New Zealand (March 2009)
Tell us what you think
We are always seeking to improve our service and are keen to take on board any comments and ideas on how we can continue to be good at what we do. If you have any comments we’d love to hear from you so please email us.