A Queenstown doctor is launching a major recruitment drive to find extra doctors and nurses to help with the Covid-19 response.
The search is on to find extra medical staff to fill gaps in the new Covid-19 testing centres opening around the country, as well as filling current vacancies in hospitals.
Medical recruitment company MedWorld, headed by managing director Sam Hazledine, has joined forces with the Ministry of Health to launch a campaign to help find the workforce needed to fight Covid-19.
‘‘Make no mistake, we are facing the biggest crisis of our time and the demand for trained doctors and nurses will be unprecedented,’’ Dr Hazledine said.
‘‘We need all willing and available qualified health professionals to step out of retirement, semi-retirement or extended leave and make themselves available to assist where needed.’’
He believed the nation was facing ‘‘the calm before the storm’’.
“How many more doctors and nurses do we need? More, as many as we can find and fast.
‘‘It’s vital we build our staffing capacity before we actually need it, not once it’s too late as we’re seeing in countries like Italy.’’
The coming months were going to be challenging and demanding for New Zealand’s under-staffed and pressured health system.
Dr Hazledine said MedWorld had contacted the Government and Ministry of Health to offer assistance with the anticipated staffing crisis.
MedWorld was established by Dr Hazledine in 2015 to raise awareness of and support doctor wellbeing.
It is a sister company to MedRecruit, launched 14 years ago to specifically handle doctor recruitment.
Dr Hazledine
encouraged qualified doctors and nurses interested in helping to go to the MedWorld website to register.
