Medical Officer Elder Health - Horowhenua

Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral is looking for a non-specialist doctor with an interest in the health of older people. This role is based in Levin, located in the Horowhenua region in the Lower North Island of New Zealand. This position would suit a Medical Officer, Trust Registrar, or General Practitioner with an interest in the health of older people.

About the role and team:

The MidCentral District is committed to providing excellent health care to our Horowhenua population. MidCentral has a vision of transferring specialist care from hospital to the community, developing the skills of primary care in the process and fostering a collaborative approach to managing older people with frailty.

STAR 4 is a 20 bedded ward, with a mix of community hospital and Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (ATR) beds for patients of all ages, although patients are predominantly over 65 years old. The ward also has special expertise in palliative care.

This post is part of multi-disciplinary team, which includes nurse practitioners and a consultant and will provide primarily inpatient care and as required outpatient and community care. There is support from a consultant geriatrician who is on-site four days a week. There is a one in four roster pattern of on call commitments inclusive of weeknights and weekends.

As the STAR4 medical officer you will also be part of the wider Elder Health medical team and service. This team consists of eight geriatrician senior medical officers who are based at Palmerston North Hospital, in addition to the clinical team at Horowhenua Health Centre. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of care is ensured with the support of senior nursing and therapy staff.

What can we offer you?

• Real work life balance
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Six weeks annual leave per annum
• 10 paid days per annum available for continued medical education including allowances towards costs of course and travel
• Relocation packages for national and international candidates
• There may also be the opportunity to contribute to the General Practice Services (if your background is in general practice) within the Horowhenua region

About the region:

Located on the lower west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Horowhenua stretches from the mountains to the sea. The snow-topped Tararua Ranges set a picturesque backdrop in the winter months while the many beach communities fill up with holidaymakers in the summer. As well as a network of mountain bike trails, pristine rivers, market gardens, and a burgeoning creative arts and music scene, there is more to Horowhenua than meets the eye. There are several beachside villages and boutique communities within a 10-15-minute drive of Levin if you want to really relax after work or preferred a relaxed beach lifestyle. With Transmission Gully and the Otaki Expressway now open, our capital city Wellington is literally on your doorstep!

Our location in the centre of the lower North Island puts us in close proximity to excellent hiking and mountain bike trails, great fishing spots and we are only a short drive from the beach. Wellington (with the buzz of our capital city), the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay (wine growing regions), and Mt Ruapehu (ski fields) are only a couple of hours away.

Join us and contribute to making a positive impact in the health outcomes of older people in the MidCentral district as we pursue our vision of `Quality Living, Healthy Lives, Well Communities'. Come and join our friendly and dedicated Elder Health team at Horowhenua Health Centre, Levin.

If you'd like to chat more about this opportunity, please feel free to reach out to Dr Jonathan Kok, Medical Lead jonathan.kok@midcentraldhb.govt.nz or Maree Loynes, Recruitment Specialist, maree.loynes@midcentraldhb.govt.nz