20 May 2025
Nancy Peters
By email:
[FYI request #30764 email]
Ref:
SBOIA25-682
Dear Nancy
Transfer of your request for information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 18 April 2025
to the Minister of Health, Hon Simeon Brown. You requested:
"I am writing to request the following information regarding General Medicine at
Auckland City Hospital (Te Toka Tumai Auckland), as of 17 April 2025 - the date you,
as Health Minister, publicly stated that senior doctors receive an average total
remuneration of $343,500.
1. The total number of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) employed in General
Medicine.
2. The number of these SMOs who are members of the Association of Salaried
Medical Specialists (ASMS).
3. A breakdown of the General Medicine SMO workforce by Full-Time Equivalent
(FTE) status, and ASMS salary step
4. The average salary per General Medicine SMO, calculated per doctor (not per
FTE).
5. Any existing strategies, business cases, or workforce planning documents that
address how Auckland City Hospital intends to recruit and retain experienced
General Medicine SMOs, particularly in light of trans-Tasman competition. Notably,
the ASMS has highlighted that senior doctors at the top end of the salary scale in
New Zealand are being paid less than their counterparts at the bottom end of the
New South Wales scale.
6. Any strategies or policy documents outlining how Te Whatu Ora or Auckland City
Hospital intends to retain senior registrars in General Medicine, particularly those
approaching fellowship, to ensure they remain in the New Zealand health system
rather than taking roles overseas."
The information you have requested is more closely connected with the functions of Health
New Zealand. Therefore, this office has decided to transfer your request to Health NZ under
section 14(b)(i ) of the Act. You can expect a response from Health NZ in due course.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Reef Stewart
Ministerial Advisor
