Training to be surgeons, waka ama on the side

Surgeons in training (from left) Matthew Street, Georgina Chan, Teri Maheno, Michael Lee, Wes Xia and Dillon MacIntyre check out some joints during their workshop sessions at Chelsea Hospital. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne may become a long-term location for doctors training to become orthopaedic surgeons.

Tauranga-based orthopaedic surgeon Dawson Muir and other trainers have just completed their first two-day “teaching event” with 11 trainee surgeons from all over New Zealand.

The trainee surgeons have had two or more years of experience in orthopaedics but the Gisborne course is the first official event in their first year of the five required to complete training.

Mr Muir said it was important to host training events in peripheral centres like Gisborne to showcase the cities and hopefully encourage people to consider ultimately working in smaller centres which often struggle to find staff.

“We plan to host this event in Gisborne for the next three years, at least,” he said.

“The training event was partly assessment-based, but given the limited level of experience, there was plenty of opportunity for teaching.

“The local orthopaedic surgeons provided valuable presentations and contributed to the teaching.”

Mr Muir thanked the local surgeons for their input as well as Chelsea Hospital Charitable Trust for making the hospital available.

“We strive for surgical excellence, but we also want, very much, to improve the professional skills aspect and cultural safety.”

In support of this, the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association cultural adviser Ken Te Tau was invited to come to this event.

Unfortunately the weekend clashed with band practice — he is the bass player for the Pink Floyd Experience!

Mr Muir said the specialty of orthopaedics was dominated by Pakeha men but real progress was being made in encouraging women as well as Māori and Pasifika to consider a career in orthopaedics.

The biggest problem faced by the profession was the failing public hospital system, he said.

“We need strong public hospitals to provide elective surgery, such as hip and knee replacements, as well as the ability to provide training.

The country’s population was growing but hospital capacity was not.

“Hospitals can now frequently only provide trauma and care for illnesses such as cancer.

“Gisborne Hospital generally has operating facility capacity but they have major problems with nursing and anaesthetic staffing.

“They are not unique, with many New Zealand hospitals suffering from major nursing shortages.

“A significant contributor to this is the exodus of nurses to Australia.”

The trainers and trainees had some down time in Gisborne, with the trainees thrashing the trainers in waka ama at the Marina.

“Orthopaedic surgeons are naturally a competitive bunch so despite being older and clearly weaker, the trainers were a little on the grumpy side post-race,” Mr Muir said.

“This was remedied when two of the trainee crews managed to capsize.”

The recreational facilities at the Marina and the enthusiasm of the local surgeons at Chelsea put Gisborne in a very good light.

Many of the trainees had not been to Gisborne before, said Mr Muir, who is Gisborne born-and-bred.

“Hopefully the great weekend will have a lasting influence on their future place of work.”