Some specialist positions with the Otago District Health Board have remained unfilled for more than two years, figures released to the Otago Daily Times show.
The information, which relates to the situation at the end of June, shows that the longest wait, of two and a-half years, has been for a specialist radiation oncologist.
Three months later, that position remains unfilled.
Board chief operating officer Vivian Blake said she had been in public health for 20 years and the situation with long-term vacancies was the worst she could recall.
It was likely to get worse, as in some specialty fields there were worldwide shortages.
Usually, if a position was vacant for six months, staff could cope, unless it was a sole position.
However, the longer vacancies went on, the harder it got, because staff got burned out.
Long vacancies had an impact on the number of services that could be provided.
While it might be thought Otago had difficulties, it was much worse for smaller boards, where there were already fewer people on rosters.
Two positions, for an occupational therapist at Wakari Hospital, and an administration staff member in mammography, have been unfilled for 29 months.
The number of positions vacant for more than six months was 95.
Twenty-six of these were for specialists.
The vacancies were equal to 52.6 full-time positions, as not all of the vacancies were for full-time jobs.
Seventeen of the specialist vacancies were in the board's emergency medicine and surgery group.
There were also six specialist positions in the mental health and community services group unfilled for more than six months, and 10 mental health nursing vacancies.
Fifteen of the top 19 positions unfilled for more than a year are for specialists.
These include anaesthetists, a general surgeon, a gastroenterologist and an orthopaedic surgeon.
The board has also been trying to find a plumber for more than 12 months.
The Otago and Southland boards are in the middle of their United Kingdom recruitment campaign for this year, which will include a new "Return to your Southern Roots" event this weekend at the Speight's Southerner bar in London, aimed at expatriate New Zealand health professionals.
Mrs Blake said it was hoped this would be successful in attracting people who might want to return to the South.
She knew of someone who had worked in Gore who indicated he would be interested in returning and bringing a physiotherapist friend.
The event has attracted criticism because of the venue and the offer of a free beer to those attending, but Mrs Blake said it was one of those situations where "you're damned if you do and damned if you don't".
The campaign for UK staff last year resulted in 11 new staff members, and the boards had a database of 300 people with whom they were staying in contact.
These people had shown an interest in coming to this region.
