Background

Dr Nazar Salah had an exciting career path which started in his home country of Sudan where he pursued his undergraduate medical studies in Khartoum and then took him to Ireland where he completed his postgraduate training in his chosen medical speciality of anaesthesia. He soon passed the Fellowship examinations in anaesthesia and swiftly obtained registration in the specialist section of both the Medical Council of Ireland as well as the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom.

Working as a consultant anaesthetist, Dr Salah practised in Ireland, the UK and then Saudi Arabia before returning home to Sudan where he established a busy practice in the capital Khartoum. All was going well until political disorder struck with the revolution and overthrow of the civilian government and its replacement with military rule. Dr Salah wanted to leave quickly to secure a safe exit from turbulent Sudan and life for his family in a stable country.

Dr Salah contacted Odyssey Recruitment to help him secure a permanent consultant anaesthetist job in his country of choice, New Zealand. Our recruiters worked with him to define his scope of practice in anaesthesia, establish eligibility for provisional vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand and select a location which offered a peaceful lifestyle for his family, a selection of good schools and affordable housing.

The Bay of Plenty, a very popular destination for international physicians from all over the world, had a vacancy for a consultant anaesthetist in its satellite hospital in the popular tourist resort of Whakatane. Whakatane Hospital has 125 beds and provides a selection of secondary medical and surgical services to a local population which includes a large Maori population. It has a 24/7 emergency department and support from the regional hospital in Tauranga at the western end of the Bay of Plenty and tertiary support from Auckland.

The hospital has a busy anaesthetic department staffed by 7 consultants supported by resident medical officers and seemed to be a promising opportunity for Dr Salah offering a broad scope of anaesthetic practice with a small, friendly and welcoming team. The area was ideal for his large family with plenty of open space, beautiful beaches and scenery and homes with land.

Within a short time, Dr Salah was successfully interviewed, offered a job and was on his way to New Zealand.

Discussion

Q: What attracted you to New Zealand as a desirable location to practice anaesthesia?

Nazar Salah: My recent interest to pursue a career in New Zealand in my senior years, to work there and experience the country, stems from a dream I have had for many years. This dream has finally been achieved now, albeit later in my life. The positive work life balance in New Zealand, the amazing people and culture, and the breath-taking scenery and abundant outdoor life is what has attracted me to this beautiful and remote part of the world. New Zealand also promised great education opportunities for my children and a lifestyle that resonates with me and my family. Through Odyssey Recruitment I have been able to finally make my dream come true.

Q: What does a usual day at Whakatane Hospital look like for you?

Nazar Salah: Work begins at around 8.00 am and the working day usually ends at around 6.00 pm. The work hours are very reasonable with the non-clinical time off and CME hours. Obviously, the impact that COVID has had on the run of elective surgical lists has meant that, until recently, only high-priority cases, including emergencies, had been scheduled.

Whakatane is a small, rural hospital with limited specialised scope, so it may not suit those professionals looking for a career path trajectory. It is nestled in a picturesque, small but vibrant town which has an excellent location in the Bay of Plenty close to the Pacific Ocean. The facilities are very good for the hospital’s scope of practice; the buildings have been updated and the equipment is on par with any internationally recognised health facility. Most necessary medications are available and funded by the New Zealand Health Authority.

Q: How did you find arriving in New Zealand and settling into life there?

Nazar Salah: Right from arriving at the airport I felt very welcome in New Zealand, the people are pleasant and humble. Settling in with the people and culture was not hard for me, but finding a place to rent is a different story. There are some other technical points that make settling in a bit challenging initially, such as opening a bank account, getting your tax number, and changing your visa which seems a complicated process that is constantly altered, meaning that you are better off getting a licensed immigration advisor to deal with your visa applications and so on which can be quite costly.

Things are expensive here, but the salary will cover most of your needs. However, I found that I needed to haul in some of my savings to be able to cover settling costs like car purchase, furniture, school clothes and so forth. The lifestyle in New Zealand resonates well with me and I find it easy to maintain a healthy work life balance. I can understand though that it maybe isn’t for everyone, it wouldn’t be the best fit for city and nightlife folks.

Q: You found a lovely house for you and your family; what was your experience of the process around finding accommodation?

Nazar Salah: Rentals are hard to come by and the market is small. Building standards might be different to what you are used to in regard to insulation, humidity, roofing, and heating. I was lucky to find a house in an orchard that is not typical of a rental property. It is old but large and is on an avocado orchard, so it’s quite rural and serene. From the house it’s about a 50km commute to work for me, but there is local school transport that picks up the children right in front of the house.

Q: Is there anything you miss from living in the UK or from living in Sudan?

Nazar Salah: Obviously family and friends. New Zealand is very far away. It is also difficult to find products you are used to from elsewhere, but there are good alternatives available here and I am not too fussy. As I mentioned before, things here are expensive and that goes for everything: houses, cars, even the second-hand market. Also, long travel times for international flights and the distance to other countries mean less travel or very expensive fares.

Q: What advice would you give to doctors considering a move to New Zealand?

Nazar Salah: Do your research. I researched a lot before coming over on various web sites, blogs, et cetera, so most things for me were anticipated when first getting to New Zealand. For other things, you will not know until you actually arrive. These are generally small things in my experience. Also, don’t expect things to be sorted in a hurry, life here is laid back, Kiwi style!

New Zealand is a great place for work and life, but it’s not for everyone. Many people come here planning for a limited stay and end up extending their time. On the other hand, some people can't get used to small, rural type living and go back. It can also be difficult if family and social commitments are important for you since New Zealand is so far away from almost everything. If you fit in with the culture, you will enjoy it here. Don’t make the mistake of thinking New Zealand would be a smaller version of Australia, they are different countries.

Summary

• New Zealand has a healthcare system which is comparable in terms of standards to that of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and the countries of Western Europe. Physician working conditions are excellent with generous leave entitlements and hospitals are well equipped.
• For doctors who have trained in the UK and Ireland, the transition to working in New Zealand is relatively straightforward.
• New Zealand is a beautiful country which is great for nature lovers, children and people who like a relaxed pace of life but the costs of living can be high and the country is isolated making journeys to other parts of the world long and costly.
• The costs of living in New Zealand can be high.
• It is wise to prepare thoroughly before applying for jobs, evaluating the scope of practice which the hospital can offer and the career prospects as well as the suitability of the surrounding location.

If you are interested in working in New Zealand, please do register your CV and contact us to discuss your job search. Advertised jobs can be viewed on our website and applications made by uploading a CV.