Suzanne Pitama. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The University of Otago will keep the same number of medical placements out of its school, but lose several locations it could send them to. It comes after Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Minister and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced the new placings for 2027, 2028 and beyond at a media conference yesterday. The new Waikato medical school has secured placements for its future students in Nelson/Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Whanganui. Otago has confirmed it will transition out of the Nelson/Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay regions from the end of 2028, and Whanganui from the end of 2029, as Waikato takes over those areas. Clinical placements for Otago medical students will continue in Southern, South Canterbury, Canterbury, West Coast, Wairarapa, Tairāwhiti and Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley. Otago faculty of medicine head Prof Suzanne Pitama said this would not affect placement numbers for Otago, nor would it affect the nature of teaching. ‘‘For more than 150 years, we have worked alongside communities to educate doctors who serve throughout New Zealand and beyond. ‘‘We are proud of that legacy, and grateful to the generations of clinicians, teachers, communities, and graduates who have shaped it. We remain committed to delivering high-quality, socially accountable medical training responsive to the expectations of communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.’’ Prof Pitama said it would work through the logistics during the transition period. ‘‘The University of Otago, the University of Auckland, and the University of Waikato have participated in a nationally co-ordinated process overseen by the Ministry of Health’s clinical placements board to support sustainable clinical training capacity for growing medical student training and capability across Aotearoa New Zealand.’’ Executive dean of Bond Business School Prof Robin Gauld said Otago would need to adapt to the changes. ‘‘So it may mean that they will need to generate additional places in some of the current locations, or generate new places in locations that they haven’t previously worked in. ‘‘But they’ve got a bit of time. There’s a bit of a runway in between now and when that Waikato arrangement will kick in.’’ Prof Gauld said the situation was tricky for Otago, as it would mean losing a ‘‘lot of intellectual memory and relationship building’’ in areas where they were no longer allowed to send placements. ‘‘I’m sure they’ll manage through it, but it’s pretty challenging being told that you’ve got to get out of this region because Waikato’s moving in.’’ Prof Gauld, a former teacher at the Otago medical school, said there had been a lot of ‘‘internal conversations’’ about the changes to placement locations, and some concern from staff about its sustainability. matthew.littlewood@odt.co.nz
