The Rising Demand for Emergency Medicine Physicians in New Zealand What You Need to Know

As an experts in recruiting within the medical and healthcare sectors internationally, we are committed to bridging exceptional talent with organisations in need. We aim to forge lasting connections which drive success for both clients and professionals alike. In our articles, we hope to provide valuable insights into the recruiting landscape which can assist you achieve your career aspirations. In this article we look at the field of emergency medicine in New Zealand.



Despite its reputation as a dynamic and innovative speciality, emergency medicine still faces shortages of qualified physicians at all levels in hospitals throughout New Zealand. There are several factors which account for this situation with clear implications for both candidates seeking jobs and healthcare organisations requiring staff. If you are an emergency medicine physician seeking new opportunities, this could be an exciting prospect.

What's Driving the Demand?

• Population Growth: New Zealand's growing population is directly proportional to the need for more qualified physicians, especially in emergency medicine. Whilst Auckland is the largest city, other provincial cities in both islands have experienced changing demographics including an influx of working age people and an increase in the numbers of elderly frail people living at home.
• General Practice and Urgent Care Service Deficits: For most patients a visit to the General Practitioner (GP) or Urgent Care clinic is sufficient to deal with their concerns. However shortages of physicians in these services has forced patients into the emergency departments for lack of alternatives, driving up the waiting times.
• Healthcare Initiatives: The government's recent focus on healthcare improvements has generated new job opportunities in the sector. This has included hospital reconstructions with newly designed and enlarged emergency departments, often with their own in patient beds.
• Longer Waiting Times: As waiting times at emergency departments continue to increase, the demand for more emergency physicians grows in order to meet government targets.

Implications for Candidates and Organisations:

• Opportunities for Emergency Physicians: The surge in demand means exciting job opportunities with attractive remuneration for emergency medicine physicians. This includes permanent, locum tenens and fixed term positions.  The latter are contracts of up to 12 months duration to cover the leave of an incumbent physician (often on parental or sabbatical leave) and provide an opportunity to sample work and life in New Zealand without making the lengthy commitment of a permanent job.
• Challenges for Organisations: Hospitals may face considerable challenges to find suitably qualified emergency physicians who are eligible for registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand. 

What Does This Mean for You?

As an emergency medicine physician, this implies an opportune time to make your next career move. Whether you are just starting out in your career or an experienced physician looking to forge new paths, New Zealand's burgeoning healthcare sector offers promising possibilities in hospitals across both islands which include:

• Tertiary Hospitals: located in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton in the North Island and Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island
• Secondary Hospitals: located in all provincial cities and larger towns
• Rural Hospitals: located in small towns, which despite their classification as "rural" may not be very far from larger urban centres and act as satellite hospitals to the larger hospitals with staff often rotating between facilities.

For healthcare organisations, it is crucial to take proactive steps to secure a steady pipeline of qualified and motivated physicians who can maintain the quality of the emergency services and act as the educators and mentors of the next generation of emergency physicians.

Let's Bridge the Gap Together

As your trusted recruitment consultants, our mission is to ensure that medical organisations continue to grow and innovate while professionals soar in their careers. With our extensive professional network and industry knowledge, we are confident that we can navigate these exciting times together and find solutions.

Why not take the next step and explore the career possibilities available to you today? Contact us now, and together we can bridge the gap to your successful career. Begin the application process now, and then learn more about how we can help you.

Here are some resources to assist your job search.

• Medical Job Search Tips: Use the content here to learn everything you need to know about optimal searches for medical jobs in different geographical locations and the physician recruitment processes.
• Medical Jobs by Specialty: Explore medical jobs around the world and learn about the various options and remuneration packages 
• Negotiating Job Contracts: Essential Tips for Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Explore Emergency Medicine Physician Jobs in New Zealand
• The 4 Stages of Medical Education in Australia and New Zealand
• New Zealand | Residency, Visas and Citizenship for Doctors and Dentists
• New Zealand | Understanding Medical and Dental Employment Contracts
• Practise Medicine and Dentistry in New Zealand - A Guide to the Healthcare System