$10,000 a week ... and hospital is begging for applicants

By TONY GEE

Wanted - two specialist anaesthetist locums for Kaitaia Hospital.

Salary - $10,000 to $11,000 a week.

Start date - tomorrow (or sooner).

Northland Health was sending out this SOS last night to try to meet a key element of an agreement reached in Whangarei on Thursday to restore 24-hour surgical services at Kaitaia Hospital.

Part of the agreement requires the recruitment of two specialist anaesthetist locums to ensure sufficient cover for surgery at all hours in Kaitaia.

With only 48 hours from early yesterday to find suitable candidates, Northland Health had been unsuccessful by last night.

"We've looked at several possibilities and have been working with Kaitaia Hospital staff, but haven't been able to find staff to meet the standards of our agreement," said Ken McNeil, group manager of surgical services.

More than $10,000 a week is being offered to entice the locums to the Far North.

Mr McNeil said other options, such as moving specialist staff from Whangarei to Kaitaia, had been considered, but that would affect services at Whangarei.

District health board communications manager Luke Worth said last night that the present locum anaesthetist at Kaitaia was due to leave tomorrow. He was being paid about $11,000 a week.

"We have another one starting on Wednesday, but that leaves us one short. We've got no one between Sunday and Wednesday."

Two specialist anaesthetists are needed at all times.

"Right now, we don't have enough to meet conditions in the agreement," Mr Worth said.

He said eight applicants for anaesthetist jobs at Kaitaia had been turned down, most because they did not meet the specialist conditions.

Several others who did would be available later in the year.

But over the next three months, the term covered by the agreement to restore full surgical services and caesarean operations while a longer term solution is found, specialist anaesthetist cover at Kaitaia was "patchy".

"We've got a telephonist and staff on standby during the weekend.

"We'll take calls from anyone who's a specialist anaesthetist ... "

Anyone interested in replying to Kaitaia Hospital's advertisement can phone Mr McNeil at Northland Health on (09) 430-4100.