General Medicine Senior Medical Officer

Thames Hospital, New Zealand Permanent, Full-time - Rostered Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to building a health system that effectively serves all New Zealanders. About the Company At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we prioritize the health and well-being of our communities. Our aim is to provide excellent healthcare while fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. About the Role We invite you to join our team at Thames Hospital, located at the gateway to the beautiful Coromandel peninsula. We are looking for a motivated physician with a diverse skill set to enhance our medical service. Our team of five consultants delivers both inpatient and outpatient general medical care to a population of approximately 50,000 residents. In this role, you will lead a team of Senior House Officers and Registrars from the Rural Hospital Medicine and General and Acute Care Medicine training programs. Our on-call roster operates on a 1:4 to 1:5 basis, and we have structured a rotating three-week cycle of ward roles. This design includes 'off-the-ward' weeks, ensuring that all physicians have dedicated non-clinical time and opportunities for annual leave and Continuing Medical Education (CME) leave. We also offer flexible full-time equivalent (FTE) options, allowing you to work less than 1.0 FTE by adjusting your ‘on-the-ward’ weeks throughout the year. Key Responsibilities - Provide direct inpatient care and acute assessments for Thames General Medicine patients, including specialist support for the Thames Emergency Department. - Support primary and ambulatory care by offering phone consultations to General Practitioners, electronically triaging referrals from primary care, and conducting outpatient assessments in our General Medicine Clinic. - Communicate effectively with General Practitioners through clinic letters, discharge summaries, and other correspondence. - Provide leadership and educational support to Thames General Medicine Resident Medical Officers. - Collaborate with Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and patient flow managers at Thames and Waikato Hospitals to ensure the safe and efficient transfer of patients. - Ensure timely acknowledgment and actioning of investigation results, and engage in non-clinical activities appropriate for the SMO role, including maintaining professional development, attending departmental meetings, and participating in service improvement initiatives. About the Team/Service Thames Hospital is a modern, vibrant 50-bed secondary hospital equipped with an emergency department, inpatient medicine, day case surgery, an infusion unit, rehabilitation services, and low-acuity mental health beds. As a rural facility, we provide subspecialty services at Waikato Hospital, approximately 90 minutes away by road. We offer 24-hour laboratory and radiology services, including CT imaging. Our hospital serves as an accredited training unit for 5th and 6th-year medical students from Auckland University, PGY2 House Officers, Rural Hospital Medicine registrars, and General and Acute Care Medicine advanced training registrars. We actively participate in quality improvement and internal CME programs, as well as an RMO teaching initiative. Telehealth is an expanding service in Thames, utilized in inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and the emergency department for stroke thrombolysis. Thames is a coastal town located on the shores of the Hauraki Gulf, known as the gateway to the Coromandel. The region offers abundant recreational opportunities, with surf beaches and native bush ideal for relaxation and outdoor activities. Centrally located in northern Waikato, Thames is just a 90-minute drive from Auckland, Hamilton, or Tauranga. Join Us We invite you to become part of our team at Thames Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/jobs/vacancies/join-thames/. About You We welcome applications from Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians or Fellows of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine, or individuals with equivalent qualifications. Candidates must be eligible for vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are dedicated to providing outstanding healthcare to the people of New Zealand. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workforce, enabling us to better serve our community. We encourage applications from individuals within our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. How to Apply To apply, please click 'Apply online' or visit our Waikato Careers website. All applications should be submitted through our online careers portal. If you have any questions regarding the role, please reach out to Kaitlin Basson at Kaitlin.Basson@tewhatuora.govt.nz.