Intensive Care Physician - Dunedin Hospital

• Dunedin Hospital

• Permanent, full-time role (Permanent, part-time and one-year locum positions are also considered)

• Salary: ASMS MECA 2026 (NZD $198,386–$282,645 pro rata), based on recognised experience

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

As we develop our refurbished ICU at Dunedin Hospital, we have opportunities for Specialist Intensivists, including those with a dual training specialty interest in any of the following areas: Anaesthesia, Respiratory, Nephrology or Emergency Medicine.

About the role

Dunedin Hospital has just under 400 beds and provides general care for a population of approximately 180,000 and specialist care for approximately 350,000 people spread over the lower South Island of New Zealand. Our new critical care department will integrate ICU and the majority of HDU care on the same floor. The current 12 bed ICU admits around 1000 patients per annum with a split of 2:1 acute vs elective. The new combined ICU-HDU complex will see the care of up to 22 patients in both intensive care and high dependency beds provided by the Critical Care Medicine Department. Although comparatively small to many of Australasia's larger metropolitan ICUs, the case mix is refreshingly diverse as a result of the location and large geographical catchment area: cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, major vascular surgery, trauma as well as general medical and surgical patients are catered for. Paediatric and burns patients are also stabilised and cared for in the ICU until safe transportation to other centres can be arranged if required.

The unit was recently accredited for general, cardiothoracic and trauma ICU training by the College of Intensive Care Medicine. From 2024 we are expanding our junior medical team to include SHOs, registrars and senior registrars, including transition year fellows.

Allocation of time for clinical duties and supporting in critical care is 50-70% of the working week, with 50-30% being allocated to a second specialty where applicable. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) duties will be conducted as part of a shared roster with fourteen colleagues in intensive care medicine contributing to the call roster (two colleagues are on-call every night and weekend) on a 1:7 roster. Additionally, colleagues from emergency medicine and anaesthesia currently participate in the weekend aero-medical retrieval roster. You would be expected to provide a mixture of cover for ICU, retrieval, HDU and outreach services.

Depending upon the additional specialty you hold, such as respiratory, nephrology, emergency medicine, cardiology or anaesthesia, we will negotiate the FTE you have with the other service. You will be expected to undertake a full share of the Intensive Care on-call roster with other members of the team. Other duties include participation in teaching and supervision of junior doctors, nurses and medical students, team ward rounds, quality and safety activities, audit and clinical review meetings. Additional payment is made for clinical duties outside of contracted hours, in negotiation with the management team.

About you

To be considered for substantive roles, it is essential that you have completed a recognised post-graduate training in Intensive Care Medicine and have the ability to apply for vocational registration in Intensive Care Medicine with the New Zealand Medical Council, or that you have completed a recognised post-graduate training in Intensive Care Medicine and have a specialist qualification in anaesthesia, medicine or emergency medicine that will allow vocational registration in that other specialty with allowed duties within critical care.

It is possible to apply for one-year locum tenens positions under general vocational registration if you have completed a post-graduate training and qualification in Intensive Care Medicine.

Part-time applicants would be considered. However, at the present time, all colleagues (including part-time ones) undertake a full share of call duties.

About Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disabilities. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community. We are a pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on providing equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disabled Community.

Salary range

This position is covered by the ASMS Collective Agreement. The full-time base salary ranges from Step 1 (NZD $198,386) to Step 15 (NZD $282,645) per annum, with remuneration offered pro rata according to the appointed FTE and based on recognised experience.

Additional benefits include applicable on-call and availability allowances, continuing medical education entitlements and six weeks of annual leave per annum.

How to apply

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Agatha Chen, Recruitment Advisor - Senior Medical Officers agatha.chen@tewhatuora.govt.nz