Chief Executive’s Office
Level 12, Building 01
Auckland City Hospital
P O Box 92189
Auckland 1142
(09) 630-9943 ext 22342
Fax: 375 3341
[Auckland District Health Board request email]
02 May 2022
Amber Saxton
By email to: [FYI request #18854 email]
Dear Amber
Re: Official Information Request for RMO and SMO Information and Data
I refer to your official information request dated 14 March 2022 for the following information
Hospital has many doctors at different pay scales and responsibilities. Many of which are
demanding for the team. Paediatrics and General Medicine have been two of the demand
rotation.
With regards to general medicine and pediatrics departments.
1) what is the list if senior medical officers designated to be clinical supervisors for medical
students from the university if Auckland (i.e. who are the SMOs who can sign CSRs)
2) from above, what is the FTE of each SMO, and number of hours expected on site.
2a) if applicable, what is their salary as per Association of Salaries Medical Specialist
contact
2ai) what has this been for the last 10 years
2b) if unavailable, what is their generic SMO payscale
3) to prevent burn often doctors get rostered time off
3a) how many days in a row can an SMO work as per contact
3b) what is the policy around SMO rostered days off
3c) what compensation is given when SMO do work beyond their day off? e.g. come in
on a RDO
4) With regards to house Officer
4a) what are the run catagories for house officers on paediatrics and general Medicine
attachments, ergo number of expected hours
4b) what is their pay as per pgy# and run catagory from above
4bi) what has this been for the last 10 years?
4c) what is the maximum number of days house officers in the attachments above have
to work in a row
4d)what is the rostered day off policy for house officers in the rotations mentioned
above?
5) With regards to trainee interns
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5) how many hours per week are trainee interns expected to be on placement in runs
above?
5a) as they are not paid, what protections are ensured trainee interns have proper rest
and food breaks?
5b) how many days in a row are trainee interns expected to be on placement
5c) what is the dhb policy for rostered days off for trainee interns
5d) how does dhb manage the expectations for trainee interns to be present with their
health and wel being in a demanding field
I request all information in a tabulated excel document.
Response
As advised 11 April 2022, questions 1, 5, 5a), 5b) and 5d) were transferred to the University of
Auckland in the belief that that organisation held the information you seek.
We have provided the information under each of your remaining questions below.
2) from above, what is the FTE of each SMO, and number of hours expected on site.
2a) if applicable, what is their salary as per Association of Salaries Medical Specialist contact
2ai) what has this been for the last 10 years
2b) if unavailable, what is their generic SMO payscale
As question 1 was transferred to the University of Auckland and we awaiting details of the list of
SMOs that this relates to, we are unable to answer this question. We will provide further details
when we have access to the relevant information.
3) to prevent burn often doctors get rostered time off
3a) how many days in a row can an SMO work as per contact
The standard maximum duration is five continuous days, noting that SMOs can have additional
after-hours on-call and weekend roster cover arrangements. Where these periods impact on off-
duty time al services have arrangements where further time off can be taken.
3b) what is the policy around SMO rostered days off
Auckland DHB has no policy covering SMO rostered days off. The expectation is that rostered
days off are taken to provide adequate rest and recovery.
3c) what compensation is given when SMO do work beyond their day off? e.g. come in on a
RDO
There are entitlements within the SMO Col ective Agreement to provide additional remuneration.
The agreement can be found here:
https://tas.health.nz/assets/ER/ASMS-Senior-Medical-Dental-Officers-MECA-1-April-2020-31-
March-2021-1.29Mb.pdf
Any request to work on a rostered day-off would be by agreement between the service and the
SMO and remuneration and adequate recovery time would be agreed.
4) With regards to house officers (HOs):
4a) what are the run categories for house officers on paediatrics and general Medicine
attachments, ergo number of expected hours
2
4b) what is their pay as per pgy# and run catagory from above
4bi) what has this been for the last 10 years?
4c) what is the maximum number of days house officers in the attachments above have to
work in a row
4d)what is the rostered day off policy for house officers in the rotations mentioned above?
In response to your request seeking information on House Officer run categories and salary
information based on the category and post graduate year (PGY) please note the fol owing:
Note 1) General Note
The OIA request seeks information on HO run categories and salary information based on the
category and post graduate year (PGY).
Note 2) Selection of clinical attachments covered by the OIA
When identifying the HO clinical attachments (runs) covered by the OIA we have:
• included runs that are covered by general medicine run descriptions which includes relief
• excluded medical sub-specialty runs and those in acute assessment / medical assessment units
where these runs are not covered by the general medicine run description
• included runs that are covered by general paediatric medicine run descriptions which includes
relief
• excluded paediatric sub-specialty or surgical runs.
Note 3) Two Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) MECAs
There are two RMO collective agreements (Multi Employer Col ective Agreement - MECAs) that
govern terms and conditions of employment for RMOs they are:
• 20 DHB and NZ Resident Doctors’ Association MEDA dated 17 May 2021 – 31 March 2024
(NZRDA MECA)
https://nzrda.org.nz/rmos/meca/
• 20 DHB and Specialty Trainees of New Zealand MECA dated 14 December 2021 – 13 December
2023 (STONZ MECA).
https://www.stonz.co.nz/meca/
As of the date of this response, the salary scales, method for calculating run categories and the limits
on consecutive days of work are different in each MECA. When providing responses to the OIA this
has been split to identify NZRDA MECA and STONZ MECA. See Attachment 1.
Note 4) Run Categories
Run categories are based on a band of hours as set out in the table below. This band of hours
represents the weekly hours averaged over the 13 week run rotation (clinical attachment) and does
not reflect the actual hours worked from week-to-week as this wil fluctuate dependent on the
roster pattern.
Category
Hours
F
40-44.9
E
45-49.9
D
50-54.9
C
55-59.9
B
60-64.9
A
65+
3
Any reference in this response to an A+ or A++ run category relates to how relievers are paid (see
section below on ‘Reliever salaries’). The band of hours where this is referenced is 65+ hours.
Some of the runs covered in this response operate different summer and winter rosters through the
HO training year. Where summer and winter rosters are in place the run category for summer and
winter has been provided.
Note 5) Salary scale and Post Graduate Year (PGY#)
RMOs are paid as salaried workers with salaries based on their salary scale year and run category for
the run rotation. The salary scale year is based on post-graduate experience (expressed as PGY#). At
a House Officer (HO) level the salary scale starts at Year 1 and the maximum is Year 4.
PGY1 is the equivalent of HO salary scale Year 1 and the HO will move to the next year of the salary
scale at the beginning of their next PGY year (subject to continuous service) until they reach Year 4
of the scale.
Note 6) Relievers salaries
RMOs employed as “relievers” are paid a salary two categories above the category of the majority of
runs on which they are employed to provide cover.
Where the provision for an additional two steps would place the RMO above the top of the HO scale
an RMO who is on year 3 Category A or year 4 category B is paid Category A year 4 plus the amount
set out at Allowance 1 gross per annum. An RMO who is on year 4 Category A is paid the additional
amount set out at Allowance 2 gross per annum. Additional al owance amount based on each MECA:
• Allowance 1 – NZRDA MECA $5,000
• Allowance 1 - STONZ $5,300
• Allowance 2 – NZRDA MECA $10,000
• Allowance 2 - STONZ $10,600.
The reference to A+ and A++ in this response to your Official Information Act questions regarding
relief run categories is used to identify where the two steps above is higher than an A category run
for payment purposes.
4a) What are the run categories for house officers on paediatrics and general medicine
attachments, ergo number of expected hours?
Please see Sheet 2 “Question 4a” in the attached Attachment 1.
4b) what is their pay as per pgy# and run catagory from above
Please see Sheet 3 “Question 4b” in the attached Attachment 1.
4bi) what has this been for the last 10 years?
Please see Sheet 4 Question 4bi NZRDA in the attached Attachment 1.
The first STONZ MECA came into effect on 10 December 2018 and when responding to Question 4bi
the data for STONZ MECA commences from this date. Prior to this date the only MECA in force was
the NZRDA MECA.
Please see Sheet 5 Question 4bi STONZ in the attached Attachment 1.
4
4c) what is the maximum number of days house officers in the attachments above have to work in
a row
The limits on consecutive days of work for non-shift rosters in each RMO MECA differ.
In the NZRDA MECA non shift rosters detailed at Schedule 10 of the MECA, limit the number of
consecutive days worked in a row to 10. For any weekend duty worked in these rosters the RMO is
granted a week day (Monday – Friday) rostered completely free from duties (RDO) in compensation
for the weekend duty worked.
In the STONZ MECA the limit on the number of consecutive days worked in a row is up to a
maximum of 12 days.
The maximum number of days HOs in the attachments (detailed at our response to question 4a)
have to work depends on their terms and conditions of employment. If they are covered by NZRDA
MECA terms and conditions their maximum number of days worked in a row will be 10. If they are
covered by STONZ MECA terms and conditions their maximum number of days worked in a row will
be 12.
4d) what is the rostered day off policy for house officers in the rotations mentioned above?
This depends on the individual RMOs terms and conditions of employment. All of the runs listed at
question 4a) are Schedule 10 rosters in the NZRDA MECA and as such House Officers on NZRDA
MECA terms and conditions have week day rostered days off on their roster. House Officers who are
on STONZ terms and conditions of employment do not have week day rostered days off on their
roster, there is no MECA contractual provision to provide this.
With regards to trainee interns:
5c. what is the DHB policy for rostered days off for trainee interns?
Auckland DHB does not have a policy regarding rostered days off for trainee interns. We are,
therefore, refusing this aspect of your request under section 18(e) of the Official Information Act as
the document al eged to contain the information requested does not exist.
I trust this information answers your questions.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, or an edited version of this response, may be published on the
Auckland DHB website.
Yours sincerely,
Ailsa Claire, OBE
Chief Executive
Encl.
Attachment 1. OIA 1195 RMO and SMO Information and Data
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Document Outline
