Team put doctors in the house

When overseas medics arrive in New Zealand to work they come for the lifestyle and not the money, says Kathleen Haskell.

"It's definitely not a lucrative option for them," Ms Haskell said.

She and associate consultant Pauline Groves, her colleague at Medlink International Medical Recruitment, pride themselves on matching medical people with the lifestyles they want.

"We've only had two doctors that have left before their contract was finished, and that was for personal reasons," Ms Haskell said.

New arrivals are greeted at the airport and helped to settle in. They even found French horn lessons and a French horn to meet one family's needs.

Medlink brings doctors and other health professionals, including nurses and midwives, into New Zealand hospitals and private practices.

It has two full-time staff and prides itself on matching people - especially specialists from the US and UK - with the lifestyle they want.

Ms Haskell is the owner and director, having bought the business in 2000 and brought it to Wanganui from Wellington.

The two have an office in a house in Sarjeant St, but also work from their homes using the telephone, email, Skype and their company's website, www.medlink.co.nz

Most of the professionals they hope to attract are in the northern hemisphere, which can put a crimp into their working week.

"Our Saturday is their Friday night in the US and UK. On Saturday morning we have a lot of emails to respond to and we like to respond to people within 24 hours. Mondays are usually quiet."

Four clocks are on their office wall, showing the time in Wellington, London, New York and Los Angeles. They keep an eye on nationwide vacancies and advertise in journals, and network with contacts built up during their 36 years' combined experience.

They can help medical staff with credentialling and registration, and are paid by the hospital or private practice that receives them.

Ms Haskell said there were always medical shortages in New Zealand, and they were unpredictable.

"We have tried to map them, but there's no rhyme or reason. Currently its obstetricians and gynaecologists, neurologists, general physicians, psychiatrists and GPs."