Due to a retirement in the Hospital Palliative Care Team later this year, we are seeking a Consultant in Palliative Medicine for a 350 bed district general hospital in Palmerston North, (7th largest city in NZ) in the central North Island.
This is a large teaching hospital that is well-respected, and enjoys close links with both Auckland and Otago Medical Schools.
- Just a 2 hour drive from Wellington City
- 0.8fte (32 hrs per week)
- Large regional teaching hospital
- Close links to the local Hospice and community services
- Rewarding role both professionally and socially
The Hospital Palliative Care Team consists of a Physician, two Clinical Nurse Specialists and a Registered Nurse. The team works closely with the Arohanui Hospice which is located next to the hospital, the Hospice services are mostly used by people living with advanced cancer, but they also provide support to those in the advanced stages of other illnesses such as respiratory or heart disease, motor neurone disease or HIV-AIDS.
The Team is part of the larger Regional Cancer Treatment Service which provides radiation oncology, medical oncology, and clinical haematology services to the District Health Boards that cover the Manawatu, northern Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui and Taranaki regions (total population 500,000). Altogether there is a combined team consisting of 5 medical oncologists, 6 radiation oncologists, 5 clinical haematologists, and 1 palliative medicine physician who deliver a clinical consultation service.
The service is also an approved FRACP training hub and undertakes active postgraduate teaching at House Officer, Senior House Officer and Registrar level in conjunction with Arohanui Hospice. So there are excellent opportunities to be involved in teaching.
- Total package circa NZ$180,000 - $300,000 pa pro-rata, depending on level of experience
- Includes base salary range NZ$155,040 - $219,000 pa pro-rata
- Includes NZ$16,000 CME Allowance pa + 10 days leave pa to attend conferences
- Dedicated non-clinical time and multidisciplinary teamworking
- Relocation assistance available
The Location
Palmerston North (population: urban 80,000, regional 168,000) has a genuine, easygoing vibe. It has all the facilities that you would expect of a city, yet is still compact and easy to navigate. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, a local airport and a wealth of sporting activities and community festivals if you want to get involved. Living here is affordable, with high quality housing and a reputation for its excellent primary, secondary and tertiary education facilities, there is a lot to offer families of all ages. And the commute to work is circa 10-15 minutes from anywhere in the city.
If you prefer to live a semi-rural relaxed lifestyle, just a 15 minute drive away from Palmerston North is the town of Feilding, voted New Zealand’s most beautiful town 14 times, with its gorgeous gardens, Edwardian buildings and Farmers Markets at the weekend, it’s a great place for families with a real sense of community and hospitality.
Whether you decide to live in Palmerston North itself or Feilding, or any of the other little towns in the Manawatu region, the location in the middle of the North Island means you will be within easy driving distance of premier ski resorts at Turoa and Whakapapa to the north, the lush Hawke’s Bay wine region to the east, clean and quiet unspoilt beaches (Himatangi, Foxton, Otaki) along the West Coast, and of course, to the South is NZ’s capital city of Wellington (2 hour drive).
The local airport has daily commuter flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, making international flight connections very easy.
Find out more about Palmerston North and the Manawatu region here
Requirement
Given the permanent nature of this role, you should be eligible for provisional vocational registration with Medical Council of New Zealand (or already hold vocational registration with MCNZ). This is the specialist pathway for registration and we can assist with paperwork if you are successfully appointed. You can check the MCNZ website here to self-assess your eligibility for this pathway.
Alternatively, eligibility for Locum Tenens registration with Medical Council of New Zealand will also be viewed favourably. Locum Tenens is a short term specialist registration, valid for up to 12 months only, which takes only 30 days to process once submitted.
Contact Caroline O’Hagan for more details or to have a confidential chat.
Please note, Caroline is now based in Wellington, New Zealand.