Specialists face float between two sites

Obstetricians and gynaecologists coming to work at either Wanganui or Palmerston North hospitals are being told they may be expected to work at either facility.

Dr Digby Ngan Kee, regional clinical director of obstetrics and gynaecology for both Whanganui and MidCentral district health boards, said there was a general clause in the employment contracts of such consultants employed by either board which required them to work on both sites.

Dr Ngan Kee said this clause had been part of these specific contracts for some time now.

"However, the details of this are not explicitly spelled out in their contracts," he said.

"Any details, and the terms and conditions, would be subject to employment negotiations."

The contract arrangement was questioned by an anonymous comment posted on the Wanganui Chronicle website on Monday.

The person lodging the comment also said she understood that Midcentral O&G; specialists were not required to sign regional contracts and said she was worried that if the Wanganui board voted to move the 24/7 obstetric roster to Midcentral, then any new doctors "will be swallowed into Midcentral's roster".

Her comment came in the wake of a Chronicle story which said the WDHB had signed a contract with a UK-based O&G; due to start work in September, and had offered an additional specialist a job from another New Zealand hospital.

Contracting these two O&Gs; would bring Wanganui Hospital's complement to four and enable the hospital to provide a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week O&G; cover for its maternity service.

The service was on the verge of collapsing and that had prompted both health boards to prepare a regional women's health service plan, which could see half Wanganui's mothers being sent to Palmerston North to give birth.

Heated debate and public reaction to the plan forced the WDHB to seek public submissions on the proposal.

And, even though the O&G; staffing levels are looking much better, the submissions and hearings will continue.