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NZRDA Hospital REVIEW JULY 2021 Get in touch Unit E, Building 3 195 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051 P: 09 526 0280 www.nzrda.org.nz [email protected] facebook.com/nzresidentdoctor 2 Contents Introduction . 4 Trainee Interns . 5 Northland . 6 Whangarei Hospital Waitemata . 8 North Shore & Waitakere Hospitals Auckland ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Auckland Hospital & Starship Counties Manukau . 16 Middlemore Hospital Waikato ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Waikato Hospital Bay of Plenty ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 22 Tauranga & Whakatane Hospitals Lakes ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Rotorua & Beyond Hastings . 27 Hawke’s Bay Hospital Midcentral ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������30 Palmerston North Hospital Taranaki �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 Taranaki Base Hospital Whanganui . 35 Whanganui Hospital Wairarapa . 37 Wairarapa Hospital Hutt Valley . 39 Hutt Hospital Capital & Coast . 41 Wellington Hospital & Kenepuru Nelson Marlborough ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������44 Nelson & Wairau Hospitals Canterbury . 47 Christchurch Hospital South Canterbury ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������50 Timaru Hospital Southern . 53 Dunedin & Invercargill Hospitals 3 Introduction The RMO Viewpoint Dear Colleagues, Welcome to NZRDA’s Hospital Review for 2021. Daily Workload This is a subjective and unofficial assessment of the hospitals distributed across our beloved How reasonable for a first year? country. It’s written by RMOs for RMOs. Rosters We hope that this publication will give you an insight into what you might expect before Never get to see your children (or make any). .? commencing work. It might also help you choose where to work – given that you will shortly choose your preferred placements. RMO Lounge To all the Trainee Interns out there, please see General comfort and proximity to key the information on the facing page about RDA work areas; kitchen facilities, lounge area, membership and indemnity insurance. We are natural light; status of phone lines to enable here to help, so let us know if you have responsiveness. any questions. City Living And if you have further queries about working at a particular hospital, the first points of call Things to do (night life etc.), cost, transport, are the delegates at that hospital (your RDA proximity to other places etc. representatives working across NZ). You can find out who your delegates are by heading to our website (www.nzrda.org.nz). Cafeteria General comments including cleanliness, Alternatively, get in touch with us here at the accessibility; meals including options, quality, RDA office (our contact details are on the last availability, and restrictions. page of this review) and we will assist you! In producing this document, RMOs were asked to comment on 10 categories, but Car Parking also to contribute any other thoughts Space availability, safety and security, and comments they considered relevant. proximity to main entrance for nights, alternative arrangements if appropriate. To all those RDA delegates and RMOs who contributed their time and effort to the production of this review – a big thank you. If Acute Demand you have any feedback on or questions about the content of this review, we’d be happy to discuss. Long day work volume, work quality and experience. Review Categories RMO Unit SMO Support The helpfulness, friendliness and support (or otherwise) of RMO Unit staff. Educational opportunities/academic support; industrial support. MECA Compliance Frequency and severity of non-compliance; ease of solving disputes, etc. 4 Introduction Trainee Interns Written by RMOs for RMOs TI RDA Membership is Free contract is honoured. We also work to protect Beginning your first year as a house officer and enhance RMO training, work-life is always daunting. As well as coming to balance and wellness. We represent grips with being a doctor, you also need to individual members who get into difficulty, understand what it means to be an employee. and promote good change. The RDA is here to help you deal with “all that Indemnity Insurance contract stuff” and more. Membership for TIs is free! The RDA supports indemnity insurance through NZMPI, a wholly New Zealand- Just visit the membership page on our owned insurance company. This is website at www.nzrda.org.nz/join, fill in indemnity insurance: a guaranteed contract the form, and it’s done... but there is a of cover for you if you get into difficulty, catch! To remain a member once you start which (without trying to make you gloomy) work as an RMO, you will need to pay a you probably will - despite all the training, subscription fee - but not until your first you are human after all! This is free for pay cheque! After this, it’s $40 per month. RMOs: just tick the box usually called “RDA insurance” or “NZMPI” when filling We do encourage TIs to join; we produce in the form for DHB employment. This regular updates dedicated to TIs, which insurance remains available to house provide “things you need to know” especially officers and registrars, and continues into SMO as the time approaches when you will start your working life as a doctor. and GP land when you get to that stage. What is the NZRDA? To sum up The NZRDA (New Zealand Resident Doctors’ We actively lobby for our members’ interests, Association) – or the RDA for short – is by comment publicly when appropriate, and far the largest organisation in New Zealand communicate with other medical representing RMOs (Resident Medical organisations in New Zealand and overseas. Officers, which includes house surgeons, We work with politicians, government, and senior house officers and registrars) and the private sector. Through the RDA you of course TIs. have the opportunity to have your say and influence decisions that affect your future We are a union: a group of employees who and the future of healthcare in NZ - and come together to achieve strength and clearly this future is changing soon! safety in numbers. We are run by resident doctors for resident doctors. Our main Disclaimer purpose is to look after and promote the This review is intended to provide an honest, interests of our members. This includes provocative and irreverent commentary on taking care of doctors’ rights and interests the state of New Zealand hospitals from at work, within the health sector and in the the points of view of RMOs. All commentary is opinion only, and we have been careful wider community. not to overly edit or dilute the voices The philosophy of the NZRDA is based on of our members in their assessments. community, support and union principles Even when the commentary seems to be stated as fact, it isn’t; it is opinion such as a democratic structure and – but educated opinion, informed by the service delivery. real life experiences of doctors working within our District Health Boards. What do we do? The RDA negotiates and enforces members The NZRDA is always happy to discuss the terms and conditions of employment, and opinions that appear in our Hospital Review; if you have thoughts or comments, feel free to we work to ensure your employment contact us at [email protected]. 5 NORTHLAND WHANGAREI HOSPITAL 6 A little over two hours away from homogenous and leave a lot to be Auckland, Whangarei is the largest city desired. There are very few vege in the Northland region. While it options and not much is done to is an up-and-coming city, with plenty accommodate dietary restrictions. of hikes, cycling trails and places to They have recently however added explore, there is very little in the way new snack options which are a good of nightlife. However, people that benefit. enjoy living in Whangarei generally prefer it that way. Carparking RMO Unit You will usually be able to find a carpark at Whangarei hospital. The The RMO unit at Whangarei Hospital is main issue is with minimal long day below average. They are not very carparks, making it so that some understanding when it comes to RMOs have to park at the bottom of leave requests or extenuating the hill, away from the hospital. circumstances. There is often a long wait to get a reply to emails, despite MECA Compliance & Acute Northland DHB being on the Demand on a Long day smaller side. MECA compliance is below average, “Top of the line collegiality and some runs are without basic Schedule 10 compliance. makes [Whangarei Hospital] a very good environment SMO Support for RMO support & The SMOs at Whangarei are great. education.” They are approachable, friendly, and proactive in helping RMOs in any way RMO Lounge & Sleeping they can. This top of the line Facilities collegiality makes it a very good environment for RMO support and The Lounge is unfortunately not the education. most restful place. It lacks some basic amenities such as a working microwave Lifestyle to heat meals, and a plug for the sink to wash dishes. The area had to recently Whangarei is a relatively cheap place be fumigated for fleas due to its to live, however,