Consultant Acute Medicine Physician

• Whangārei, Northland, New Zealand
• Permanent full-time position
• Unique opportunity to help shape and develop acute medical services across Northland

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are seeking motivated physicians to provide acute medical services across Northland. This newly established role is focused on improving patient experience and reducing unnecessary stays in the Emergency Department (ED) and provides a unique opportunity to help shape the model of care and make a lasting impact.

The role has a strong focus on acute medicine and will initially be based in the Emergency Department during weekdays, alongside responsibility for the management of inpatients.

Our wider Medicine service includes:

• General and Acute medicine
• Rheumatology
• Respiratory
• Gastroenterology including a visiting hepatologist
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Infectious Disease
• Endocrinology and diabetes
• Healthcare of the elderly
• Maternal Medicine
• Oncology and Haematology
• Renal medicine

We have several new facilities, including a new laboratory, endoscopy suite and cardiac catheterisation suite, alongside approved funding for a new hospital, which is currently in the planning stage.

This role presents a significant opportunity to improve patient flow and reduce delays for general medicine patients in the Emergency Department, particularly during the afternoon and evening. This will be supported by maximising extended consulting capacity and ambulatory alternatives, including Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and hot clinics, which are primarily available during these hours.

The presence of a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) within the Emergency Department provides real-time visibility of demand and available resources, supporting effective triage and prioritisation of general medicine referrals and the timely redirection of suitable patients to ambulatory pathways.

The role also supports inpatient teams by reducing acute call demands on general medicine physicians who are concurrently responsible for ward rounds. This helps ensure patients are directed promptly to the most appropriate care pathway while supporting efficiency and continuity across acute and inpatient services.

You may be required to participate in rostered weekend on-call duties for General Medicine.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Location and Team

Our department has a welcoming, positive culture. While we work in a busy and challenging environment, our team supports one another and shares a genuine passion for the work we do and the difference we make.

Teaching and mentoring our 28 medical registrars is an important part of our work. We are looking for team players who are committed to improving and developing services to meet the needs of our population and who share our passion for delivering equitable healthcare.

As well as a warm climate, the Winterless North offers excellent schools, affordable housing and spectacular coastal areas with a wide range of recreational activities. Whangārei is approximately a two-hour drive or 25-minute flight from Auckland. To learn more about our stunning location please click here  

For more information on living and working in Northland click here

About you

To be considered, you must have or be eligible for specialist (or locum tenens) registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) in an Internal Medicine vocational scope of practice.

If you are currently overseas / not yet registered, we can assist you with the application process to obtain MCNZ registration. 

For more information on the registration process, please visit Medical Council of New Zealand  Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click apply now. All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Clinical Director of Medicine Dr Stephanie Jones stephanie.jones@tewhatuora.govt.nz or General Manager belinda.beehre@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.