Radiologist shortage leaves New Zealand hospital searching overseas

Radiology staffing shortages are hitting Waikato Hospital in New Zealand. Its workforce problem led a department of health board executive to label the unit as “vulnerable” and has prompted the hospital to look for imaging specialist overseas, according to an April 5 article in Stuff.

"Late last year we went to the board and indicated that we not only had a current problem, but we also anticipated it would get worse," said Waikato District Board of Health executive Mark Spittal.

Radiology services in New Zealand are experiencing record demand, the report notes, and the department at Waikato, after being flagged for concerns, is launching an overseas recruitment program in an effort to hire an additional 10 radiologists from the 13 already employed there.

It also plans to increase the number of medical radiation technologists from 45 to about 55.

The shortage spans the entire country, and although it appears the hospital knew about the workforce problem, leadership neglected to take appropriate steps to address it.

"I have no sympathy for the district health boards because years ago we suggested they increase the number of radiologist registrars, but they chose not to so as to save money,” said Deborah Powell, MD, with the Association of Professional and Executive Employees and New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association. “What we are going to do now is import people who aren't trained in our environment so there are additional requirements to get people culturally adapted. We recruit overseas rather than produce our own and fundamentally that's wrong."