The Ministry of Health's 12-month contract with the Otago Southern Region Primary Health Organisation could potentially save hospitals and health clinics tens of thousands of dollars in consultants and advertising by working in with the one person who will be looking for a variety of staff at all times.
Irene Mosley, from Results Consulting, started on July 1 and has already started talking to the various practices in its area to see what staff are needed.
The idea to avoid the costly "middle man" usually involved in health recruitment processes came about after a shortage of GPs in Balclutha was identified.
Now, the PHO has included Balclutha's hospital, Clutha Health First, as well as various health and medical centres on its books.
PHO manager Kaylene Holland said the aim is to eventually establish its own recruitment company to help practices find, attract and retain nurses, doctors and other health workers.
Some rural hospitals could spend up to $50,000 and even more trying to find a single doctor when that money was better spent on providing health services in the first place.
Once Mrs Mosley has met with practices to identify their needs, she will start preparing a recruitment campaign, tailormade for their individual practices.
As well as helping find trained staff for rural health centres, the scheme will also devote time to helping former health staff get the qualifications and paperwork they need to return to the workforce.
Enticing former locals, involved in the health field, back to the area, even on brief contracts, was another aim.
Ms Holland said she hoped the scheme would become self-funding in time.
Anyone wanting more details on the new recruitment scheme can contact Mrs Mosley on (027) 277-5631.
PHO facts
The Otago Southern Region PHO was formed in 2004.
It funds for an enrolled population of more than 17,500 people throughout the Otago region.
Its work involves 10.6 full-time equivalent GPs and 24 practice nurses providing primary health care services.
The region covers Tapanui, Roxburgh, Lawrence, Milton, Owaka and Balclutha.
A board of 11 appointed people governs the PHO.
It is chaired by long-time Lawrence rural health campaigner Walter Dalziel.
