Taranaki has more than enough doctors, say criteria

Taranaki's doctor shortage is not bad enough to qualify for the Government's voluntary bonding scheme.

The scheme, introduced last year, aims to attract medical graduates to hard-to-staff areas and specialties by offering financial incentives in exchange for a commitment of three to five years.

At a meeting of the Taranaki District Health Board yesterday, chief executive Tony Foulkes said the region had not yet qualified for the scheme.

"We're victims of our own success in that we're not bad enough," Mr Foulkes said.

"We're not able to benefit from that scheme, but that hasn't stopped us in our recruiting and supporting people when they get here."

Taranaki has felt the effects of a nationwide shortage of family doctors recently, but although general practice makes the list as a hard-to-staff specialty, graduates choosing that field must also work in a hard-to-staff area to qualify.

Communities currently on the list are Northland DHB, Lakes DHB, Tairawhiti DHB, Whanganui DHB, Wairarapa DHB, West Coast DHB, South Canterbury DHB, Southland DHB, Wairau Hospital, Whakatane Hospital and Thames Hospital.

Hard-to-staff areas are GPs, general surgeon, internal medicine physician, psychiatry, pathology and rural hospital medicine.

- © Fairfax NZ News