Blue lollies, kiwi stickers and a bookmark which folds out to show a map of Otago are among the giveaways the Otago and Southland district health boards will hand out during their United Kingdom recruitment campaign next month.
This year, the two boards will spend $140,000 on the Healthdownsouth campaign, which will attend migration and health expos in Liverpool, Birmingham, London, Dublin and Glasgow.
It is the second year the two boards have visited the United Kingdom as part of a long-term strategy to attract staff from the area.
The team has a blue theme, hence the blue lollies, which distinguishes it from the pink Auckland health recruiting team.
The boards' regional recruitment manager Tanya Wyatt told the Otago board hospital advisory committee it was difficult to say how many people might be recruited through the campaign.
It could take some years from the initial contact until their eventual arrival.
She emphasised the need for a consistent approach from the boards and for recruiters and managers to work together to ensure contact was maintained with people who might be interested in moving to the South.
Last year during the campaign, 300 people registered an interest in coming to New Zealand and regional marketing project manager Megan Smith said this year there might be 500 people who would meet the initial screening criteria.
As well as seeking United Kingdom trained health professionals, this year the team, in conjunction with the University of Otago's alumni office, will be hosting a "Return to your Southern Roots" event at the Speight's Southerner bar in London for expatriates.
Ms Wyatt said the team had incorporated the needs of rural hospitals and community health providers into the campaign.
Another aspect of the work was making sure people were well supported when they arrived.
Ms Smith said those recruited so far had been thrilled at the New Zealand lifestyle and the friendliness and helpfulness of those with whom they worked.
