הרבה זמן לא כתבתי בבלוג וזאת בעיקר בגלל שגיליתי את טוויטר כפלטפורמה מעניינת וקצרה לשיתוף. מאז אני משתף שם תמונות וחוויות מהשגרה היומיומית פה (מצטער על עומס הקורונה בחודש האחרון למי שנתקל בציוצים).
הימים הם ימי קורונה והכל נראה חסר ודאות.
והכל זאת, טרם במשבר ובמקביל לו התקיימו מספר תהליכים שיכולים לעניין רופאות ואחים המעוניינים להגיע לנ״ז;
1. יש עדיין דרישה אדירה לרופאים בנ״ז. עדיין הדרך לרופאי משפחה קלה יותר אבל במהלך השנים האחרונות הגיעו לכאן לא מעט רופאים מומחים מתחומים אחרים ופתחו דלתות רבות-אשמח לקשר.
2. סוכנות ההשמה Ochre עליה כתבתי בעבר עדיין פעילה אך אינה המובילה בתחום ההשמה הרפואית.
Luke (שניהל את הסניף הנ״ז) אינו פעיל בה יותר ועבר לסוכנות NZ Locum שמסתמנת כסוכנות הגדולה ביותר בשוק המקומי כיום. ליאת שעבדה בעבר עם Luke ב- Ochre פועלת כסוכנת השמה רפואית לרופאות ולאחים כאחד תחת NZMED
3. משבר הקורונה הדגיש את חשיבותה של מערכת בריאות חזקה גם בנ״ז. הופנו לכך המון תקציבים כספיים ועוד יופנו בעתיד. כרופא משפחה אני יכול להעיד שהתחושה היא שנכון להיום הצלחנו להשיג שליטה על קצב ההדבקה בזכות מנהיגות ראויה של בעלי התפקידים. הממשלה הוכיחה שיש על מי לסמוך והעם הנ״ז מוכיח ערבות הדדית ויכולת התמודדות ראויים לציון.
לכל הרופאים המומחים בישראל המעוניינים לטעום מהחויה הניו-זילנדית ולקבל מידע מעשי ועדכני על האפשרות להגיע לארץ הענן הלבן ולעסוק ברפואה.
בימים אלו עומל צוות של רופאים ישראלים / סוכני השמה מקומיים ויועצי הגירה על הקמתו של ערב הסברה ייחודי שיערך בת״א ב- 16.10.18
הערב יכלול הסבר מפורט על כלל האפשרויות וההיבטים הכלולים בעיסוק ברפואה בנ״ז לרופאי קהילה ובתי חולים כאחד.
נספר על התרבות הנ״ז, הרכב האוכלוסיה והמשמעות הרפואית, הרכב מערכת הבריאות המקומית, העבודה כרופא, תנאי השכר, הראיונות, בחינת ה-ielts, המעבר עם משפחה וילדים ,ולבסוף, היבטי הגירה/ויזת עבודה/ תושבות ואזרחות (למי מכם המעוניינים במעבר לטווח הארוך).
אני אהיה שם כדי לספר על תחום רפואת הקהילה.
אשמח לשמוע בבקשה תגובות על היבטים ספיציפיים שאתם מוצאים אותם רלוונטיים עבורכם ושהייתם רוצים שיקבלו התייחסות בערב שכזה.
מגזין Nzdoctor הינו המקבילה ל״הרפואה״ הישראלי אלא שאם טיפה יותר רפואת משפחה וראייה גלובלית של המערכת והרבה פחות אקדמיה ומחקר-תכלס, די שונים , אבל ניסיתי.
המגזין מהווה פלטפורמה להצעות עבודה ישירות לרופאים, אחיות , למי שמעונינן לקנות או ציוד ואפילו לרכוש פרקטיקה מרופא/ה על סף פרישה.
שווה להציץ ולהתרשם, לא פעם יש גם משרות לרופאים מומחים שאינם רופאי משפחה.
הקישור: https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/classifieds תתקלו במונחים: Vocational registration- מי שהוא בעל תעודת מומחיות מקומית (לא הישראלית) GP- general practitioner- רופא משפחה שאינו מומחה (רופא משפחה מומחה ישראלי ייחשב כ- GP) Locum- רופא משפחה המועסק כ-free lancer. יכול להיות GP/VR. מדובר על מונח העסקה מקצועי שעיקרו - הרופא הוא עצמאי הנותן שירות רפואי למרפאה. מרבית רופאי המשפחה אשר אין בבעלותם מרפאה, ממלאי מקום או עובדים במשרה חלקית- מועסקים בדרך זו.
The digital postcards to be delivered to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman describe huge workloads, long hours, and patients who can't afford to visit their GPs.
Hundreds of GPs write 'digital postcards' to minister, warning of primary health crisis
LAURA DOONEY
Doctors fear a shortage in GPs is likely to get worse, and have written to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman in their hundreds to spell out the extent of the looming crisis.
A total of 350 doctors have written to Coleman with tales of how a day when they get time for a toilet break is considered a good day, and how they have to give free treatment to patients who can't afford doctors' fees.
One GP in Hamilton said former patients who had moved to rural areas were calling up in tears becausecould not find a GP who would see them, while another in Northland said doctors were struggling with an increasing unpaid workload, and falling incomes.
CHRIS SKELTON/STUFF
Royal NZ College of GPs president Tim Malloy says he was surprised by how many doctors took the time to write to the minister, expressing their concerns.
The stories are told in "digital postcards" to be delivered to Coleman later this month.
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Tim Malloy, president of the Royal New Zealand College ofGeneral Practitioners (RNZCGP), said he was surprised by the response.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has acknowledged the tool in place to provide cheaper GP visits is a blunt one, and needs to be better targeted.
"I knew the sentiment was out there, because people had spoken to me directly. What I did not realise was the extent of it."
That doctors had taken the time out of their busy days to write to the minister reflected the level of passion the problem had generated within the workforce.
There were "pockets" of the country where it was getting veryhard to get to see a GP. Patea, in south Taranaki, had been without a local doctor since early July.
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The GP clinic in Patea, south Taranaki, has been without a doctor since early this month.
"I don't think we're at that critical point yet, where I could hand on heart say patients' safety is an issue ... but that's the risk we're trying to manage, that's why we're trying to do something about it before we get to that point."
The Government needed to look at the way it distributed funding to ensure those most at need were able to afford to seea doctor. It also needed to address a looming workforce shortage, he said.
Coleman agreed the tool in place to provide cheaper visits for people who needed themwas blunt.
"I've had officials working on a more individualised and more targeted approach for some months now."
Malloy acknowledged different governments had tried to help with the shortage, but it took at least 15 years to turn a first-year medical studentinto a skilled and capableGP.
Currently 180 students trained each year to become GPs, but that number needed to be 300, he said.
Wellington GP Rachael Waters said her main concern was the ageing workforce. Most of the GPs in her Churton Park practice where in their 40s and 50s, and representative of the workforce nationwide.
"Clearly most of us are going to be gone in 15 years. I don't know who's going to be there ... it's extremely concerning, I don't know who's going to be looking after everybody."
There needed to be drastic, rapid change, if the "huge gap" in the workforce was going to be filled in time. She feared medical students would prefer to specialise in areas that had better pay than general practice, to help pay off their student loans.
Ministry of Health group manager people and transformation Claire Austin said the ministry had been working with the college, and had increased the number of funded GP trainees from 50 a year in the early 2000sto 185.
There was a Medical Workforce Pipeline programme in place to ensure a sustainable medical workforce, which helped trainee doctors make informed decisions when choosing specialties.
TheGovernment had a number of initiatives to improve the distribution of the workforce in rural areas.
Tim Malloy says New Zealand didn't train enough GPs in the 1990s. More than half of our GPs are aged 50 or older.
GP college launches funding appeal to train more doctors
RACHEL THOMAS
A campaign to attract and train more GPs has been launched, amid warnings of an ageing and burnt-out workforce.
"There simply aren't enough of us," said Tim Malloy, president of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, which launched its "GP - Heart of the community"campaign on Monday, to attract funding and public support totrain more general practitioners.
More GPs were working part-time to balance work and family, so "just to stand still the college needs to train a greater number ofGPs each year, and we simply need more funding to do so", Malloysaid.
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More funding is needed to get more GPs into training, Malloy says.
New Zealand hadsignificantlyfewer GPs per head of population than in the late 1990s, and 44 per cent of them intended to retire within 10 years.
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"The college has warned about the forecast shortage of GPs for several years, but the situation is nowbecoming more and more urgent,"Malloy said.
Increased demands from a growing and ageingpopulation, not enough GPs being trained each year, and an ageing workforce were all factorsat play.
In 1999 there were 84 full-time equivalent GPs per 100,000 New Zealanders. This dropped to 74by2012.
In rural areas the ratio can be much worse.
"There were fewer GPs trained in the 1990s and we're wearing the consequences of this now – well overhalf of GPs are aged 50 or over, two-thirds say they don't have enough time to complete all their dailytasks, and nearly a quarter are reporting burnout,"Malloy said.
"This should be a concern for patients and the community. That's why our campaign is about putting ourGPs back into the heart of the community by bringing these issues to the fore.
"If people can't get to see aGP quickly, downstream health costs will inevitably spiral.
"We hope this campaign will help the community understand the role of the GP and garner support for thisimportant, demanding profession."
BY THE NUMBERS:
* 22 per cent of GPs reportfeeling burnt-out
* 44 per cent of all GPs intend to retire in the next 10 years
Moving to a new country on a permanent basis is a big step for anybody. No matter what your occupation or your current circumstances, there is always so much to think about. Such conundrums as deciding where to live, where to work and a host of other questions need to be answered, so much so that it can be enough to stop people making the big move for good – and that's a real shame.
At Ochre Recruitment, a big part of our service is helping doctors from overseas settle into their new life with the minimum of fuss. We'll take on the majority of the tedious admin work that naturally comes with moving country – such as visas, medical registration and medical indemnity – so you can set about exploring your new surroundings and get down to work as soon as possible.
Introducing Dr Uri Steinfeld!
Don't just take our word for it, though. We caught up with one of Ochre's permanent doctors, Dr Uri Steinfeld, to ask him a few questions about his new life in beautiful New Zealand. Dr Steinfeld recently moved to the Land of the Long White Cloud from his native Israel with the help of Ochre Recruitment. Here is what he had to say.
So, how did Ochre specifically help Dr Steinfeld make the move to New Zealand?
Dr Steinfeld recently moved to the Land of the Long White Cloud from his native Israel with the help of Ochre.
"The Ochre team, specifically Luke (Baddington, Ochre team leader and recruitment consultant) helped by providing me with all the support I needed in finding an employer. They assisted me in gaining my professional license and the work visa. Additionally, Luke and the team were available 24/7 for any questions or requests that I had," he said.
Lightening the load
Once Dr Steinfeld had decided to make the move to New Zealand from his homeland of Israel, there were still reams of paperwork, administration and a host of other tasks to take care of.
"Ochre provided me with handy informative files about the GP role in NZ, and the diversity of its population both culturally and medically," Uri explained.
"Furthermore, Ochre made sure that I'd receive professional training at the company's office in Wellington regarding the local pharmaceutical drugs, as well as the nation's social support system (WINZ), the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)."
"Finally, Ochre brought me together with local vocational GPs who comprehensively shared with me their experience and answered my questions. Luke was regularly calling me to ensure that things were going well, and it was good to know that support was there if needed."
Welcome to New Zealand
New Zealand is globally regarded as one of the most stunning nations on Earth, with mountains of things to see and do. With a sparse population and hectare upon hectare of open space, it is surely a dream practice destination for any healthcare professional. But how has Dr Steinfeld found the country during his time here?
"Generally speaking, my experience so far is even beyond my expectations. Kiwis (the people, not the cute little birds!) are friendly, curious and welcoming. It is a great country to raise kids and it offers the right family-work balance," he noted.
NZ provides you with a supportive environment, opportunities for further medical training, fair wage and above all, heaps of time with the family and for one's hobbies."
How does Dr Steinfeld feel the country stands up from a professional point of view? Is it a country worth giving serious consideration to moving to, especially when thinking about medical development and lifestyle perspective?
"Professionally, NZ is a great country for GPs. It provides you with a supportive environment, opportunities for further medical training, fair wage and above all, heaps of time with the family and for one's hobbies," Uri stated.
"As an outdoors freak, I couldn't ask for more!" We're glad to hear it!
Blog standard
Did you know that Dr Steinfeld actually keeps a blog about his experiences as a doctor in New Zealand? Regularly updated, it lets both his friends and family back home know how he is getting along, as well as acting as a personal journey of his Kiwi adventure.
"Taking the decision to leave your country as a young doctor in the middle of a race for a successful career wasn't easy at all. My partner and I had so many questions and uncertainties about this move and relatively remote destination," Uri cited.
"I decided that the best option was to do my utmost to support and ease the process for any other Israeli doctors who are considering moving down here, as we did 18 months ago."
"I believe and hope that not only Israelis will find my blog to be helpful, but any doctors and medical professionals thinking of making the move." We're sure that it will.
So, how would Dr Steinfeld sum up his overall experience with Ochre as he made his move to Aotearoa, in just one sentence?
"In one sentence? 'They were always there!'"
Be sure to get in touch with us at Ochre Recruitment if you'd like to follow in Dr Steinfeld's footsteps to wonderful New Zealand – we look forward to hearing from you!
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