Taranaki District Health Board
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Telephone 06 753 6139
Fax: 06 753 7770
Email: [Taranaki District Health Board request email]
www.tdhb.org.nz
Taranaki Base Hospital
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Phone: 06 753 6139
Fax: 06 753 7710
12 April 2022
Hāwera Hospital
Post Office Box 98
Hāwera
New Zealand
Amber Saxton
Phone: 06 278-9929
Fax: 06 278 9910
Via email [FYI request #18896 email]
Stratford Health Centre
Phone: 06 765 7189
Opunake Medical Centre
(CoastalCare)
Dear Amber
Phone: 06 761 7324
Pātea Health Centre
Phone: 06 273 8088
Official Information Act
Waitara Health Centre
Phone: 06 754 7150
I am responding on behalf of Taranaki District Health Board (DHB) to your OIA request of
Mōkau Health Centre
Phone: 06 752 9723
16 March 2022. You have requested the following information:
1)
What is the list of 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)?
Due to the small numbers of Senior Medical Officers (SMO) involved, we will not provide the specific
details however can confirm we have the following headcount engaged in this activity:
• three Paediatricians
• two Physicians
2)
From above, what is the FTE of each SMO and number of hours expected onsite?
Again, as per the small numbers of SMOs involved and the ability to identify them, we are unable to
provide this information.
2a)
If applicable, what is their salary as per the Association of Salaries Medical Specialist (ASMS) contract?
2a-i)
What has this been for the last 10 years?
2b)
If unavailable, what is their generic SMO pay scale?
SMOs are remunerated as per the ASMS contract; due to the small numbers involved we cannot provide
salary details as it is identifiable. A link to this agreement is provided below:
https://tas.health.nz/assets/ER/ASMS-Senior-Medical-Dental-Officers-MECA-1-April-2020-31-March-
2021-1.29Mb.pdf
To prevent burn often doctors get rostered time off:
3a)
How many days in a row can a SMO work as per contact?
SMOs usually work a maximum duration of five continuous days noting however that some SMOs have
additional after hours on-call and weekend roster arrangements.
3b)
What is the policy around SMO rostered days off?
Taranaki DHB has no policy regarding SMO rostered days off.
Page 2
3c)
What compensation is given when SMOs do work beyond their day off e.g. come in on an RDO?
There are entitlements within the SMO collective agreement to provide additional remuneration. A link
to this agreement is provided below:
https://tas.health.nz/assets/ER/ASMS-Senior-Medical-Dental-Officers-MECA-1-April-2020-31-March-
2021-1.29Mb.pdf
With regards to House Officers:
4a)
What are the run categories for House Officers on Paediatrics and General Medicine attachments, ergo
number of expected hours?
• Paediatric House Officers expected hours are between 60 and 64.9 hours
• General Medicine House Officers expected hours are between 55 and 59.9 hours
4b)
What is their pay as per PGY# and run category from above?
There are two collective agreements that cover the RMO workforce, these are provided below:
• RDA RMO MECA
https://tas.health.nz/assets/ER/RDA-Resident-Medical-Officers-Collective-Agreement-17-May-2021-
31-Mar-2024-5Mb.pdf
• SToNZ MECA
https://tas.health.nz/assets/ER/Employment-Agreements/2022-02-15-STONZ-MECA-2021-2023.pdf
4b-i)
What has this been for the last 10 years?
Information provided back to 2013 can be found on the following link:
Employment agreements - TAS | Harnessing smart thinking on health for New Zealand
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 in 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 weekday
(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 House Officers 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.
4)
What is the rostered day off policy for House Officers in the rotations mentioned above?
This depends on the individual RMO’s 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 weekday rostered days off on their roster. House Officers who are on SToNZ
terms and conditions of employment do not have weekday rostered days off on their roster. There is no
MECA contractual provision to provide this.
Page 3
With regards to trainee interns:
5)
How many hours per week are Trainee Interns expected to be on placement in runs above?
They are assigned to a team so that would be doing similar hours as a PGY1 (above).
5a)
As they are not paid, what protections are ensured Trainee Interns have proper rest and food breaks?
As they are a part of the RMO team, they would have breaks and go to lunch with the PGY1s.
5b)
How many days in a row are Trainee Interns expected to be on placement?
Five days per week.
5c)
What is the DHB policy for rostered days off for Trainee Interns?
There is no policy however they are on assignment Monday to Friday so would have two days per week
rostered off. They may participate in the odd weekend when assigned to certain departments.
5d)
How does the DHB manage the expectations for Trainee Interns to be present with their health and
wellbeing in a demanding field.
Taranaki DHB provides support to all employees/contractors/students who work within the DHB. Support
includes access to our Employee Assistance Programme which includes three free sessions of counselling.
We have additional SMOs employed as Prevocational Education Supervisors that provide support with
people entering the professional.
We have Organisational Development support in place that works with individuals to provide wellbeing
support and plans tailored directly with the individual to support the transition into the workforce.
I trust the above information answers your OIA request.
Kind regards
Joanie Sims
General Manager – People & Capability
