Doctor exodus warning

Preventing talented senior doctors being lured across the Tasman is the biggest task health chiefs face.
That's the opinion of veteran doctor Jeff Brown, president of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.
Mr Brown, a hospital specialist of more than 15 years, said Australia had many qualities ``far too attractive' for many doctors to pass up. These included pay rates up to 75 per cent higher.
"There are a lot of push and pull factors. If you are treated well, you'll stay. Bigger and bigger numbers are going to Oz," he said.
Mr Brown made his comments after an article in yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times where National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall criticised the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for hiring more bureaucrats than doctors.
According to official information in the past seven years the Bay of Plenty District Health Board has hired 174 management and admin staff, while the number of medical staff has increased by only 29.
Mr Brown, who works in Palmerston North, said it was always difficult to know what was labelled as ``management', as managers were needed to run medical theatres and clinics.
In another development it emerged today that one of Auckland City Hospital's most senior doctors has been lured to Australia by a salary package that doubles his earnings and he warns that pay hikes are needed to stem the loss of specialists.
Dr David Knight, 58, is the clinical director of newborn care and the former clinical leader of Starship and National Women's Health. When he leaves in April he will be the second of the newborn service's six neonatal specialists to go within five months.
"The New Zealand public health service has to wake up to the market over the Tasman," Dr Knight says in an unsigned letter to co-unionists, which was made public yesterday by the union, The New Zealand Herald reported.
"It is not just established specialists like me leaving, but there is a greater number of trainees not returning to New Zealand and other specialists in the UK who want to come out to the antipodes but see Australia as the better option."
Mr Brown told the Bay of Plenty Times said he had confidence in the New Zealand health system and stressed the biggest issue for hospitals was the loss of quality staff to Australia.
He said the crisis was getting worse _ nationally _ as Australia sought to be competitive in the international market for doctors.
"Treat senior doctors well enough to keep them," was his advice to DHBs.
In mid-December last year, the Resident Doctors Association released comparisons showing Australian salaries are from 12 to 75 per cent higher than New Zealand's.
But health boards said the union's comparison was flawed and implied its release was to strengthen the union's bargaining position.