Click on any of the position titles listed below to download a job description. Alternatively, please click here to search vacancies or to register your interest in positions that become available in the future.
Click here to download an application form.
Working Here
Find out what several of our current Senior Medical Officers have to say about working at Timaru Hospital and residing in South Canterbury – check out the video clip on our microsite: www.medicalstaff.co.nz
or request a copy of our latest informational DVD: hradmin@timhosp.co.nz .
South Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) is the fourth smallest in New Zealand and comprises Timaru Hospital and Talbot Park, an aged care residential facility. Being smaller doesn't mean we are any less capable, in fact SCDHB is generally ranked as a top performing DHB when measured against the Ministry of Health benchmarks and even the Ministers Office has acknowledged the fact that SCDHB consistantly performs well.
Though not a formal teaching hospital we do retain the capacity to train and develop RMO's (junior doctors), and are developing specific links with Otago Medical School for the placement of trainee interns for block periods at Timaru Hospital. We also enjoy an informal arrangement with both Canterbury and Otago DHBs (tertiary centres) to ensure academic opportunities remain available to those seeking them.
Timaru Hospital with 133 beds is small by many standards. Many put our friendly and informal (though no less professional) atmosphere down to this small size. By necessity medical staff tend be more generalists, perhaps with sub-specialty interests. We have consistently provided higher levels of service than required under our contracts, and our community’s access to non-acute medical procedures is the envy of many.
Talbot Park is a 78 bed hospital level long-stay aged residential care facility. Its nearly $1 million dementia care unit was opened in 2005, bringing to 29 its total of D-6 dementia beds. D-6 is the highest level of dementia care available and Talbot Park is the only facility in South Canterbury to provide that level of care.
Here you will find a strong emphasis on capital replacement, and significant attention is placed on the engagement of clinicians within the senior management team, with three clinical directors and a medical advisor forming an important part of that team.
In many instances our clinicians have opportunities to combine both public and private practice.
With no registrars, junior doctors are able to gain invaluable experience working far more closely with senior doctors than they would elsewhere. Not surprisingly, clinicians here enjoy and place emphasis upon a closeness to patients and practice — a hands-on experience many in the medical profession are coming to miss.
Outside of working hours you’ll find Timaru and surrounding districts offer an amazing array of outdoor pursuits for which New Zealand is famed – skiing (snow and water); trout and salmon fishing, tramping, boating and much more. A long established and relatively prosperous rural centre, Timaru offers much comparable to any larger centre, yet without many of the associated hassles, (like higher crime rates and traffic congestion for example).
The expression that "Timaru is a well kept secret" in terms of the real balance of lifestyle and career that is achievable here is a common theme often expressed by new arrivals to SCDHB.
Opportunities Here
We welcome expressions of interest from all medical professionals and take pride in our responsiveness to such. If we do not have an opportunity to suit you at the time we will maintain contact or re-direct you in the event we don’t foresee ourselves being able assist.
Those interested in full-time permanent, locum and/or part-time employment are encouraged to contact us.
All intending applicants must be registered, or be eligible for registration, with the relevant professional body in New Zealand and be either a NZ citizens (or eligible for NZ residency). We are able to assist you both with residency, relocation, and professional registration.
Any enquiries may be directed to Ross Yarrall, Senior Human Resources Advisor on
Current Vacancies
All vacancies unless otherwise specified are full-time permanent roles (expressions of interest from locums are also welcomed).
Aged Care Physician, Timaru Hospital
You will participate in an acute medical on-call roster based on a 1 in 6 frequency thereby allowing you to maintain your general medical skills. You’ll also conduct regular outpatient clinics, and work in our purpose-built 20-bed Assessment Treatment & Rehabilitation Ward within a multidisciplinary team (including one other age care physician) renowned for supporting its patients to achieve the best outcomes relevant to their individual stage of life.
Anaesthetist, Timaru and Bidwill Hospitals
The Anaesthetic Department is presently staffed by seven specialist anaesthetists servicing theatre, an obstetric unit (averaging 500 deliveries annually) and a general intensive care unit. The department also has an acute pain service and long established chronic pain unit. You’re potentially welcome to join the roster providing anaesthetic services to the private Bidwill Hospital.
Emergency Department Physician, Timaru Hospital
With approximately 17,000 attendances each year our E.D. is staffed by experienced E.D. nurses and physicians working rostered shifts. E.D. roster cover will include weekend and evening work.
E.D. cover is provided between 0800 and 2300 hours daily. Two E.D. physicians overlap between 1300 and 1800 hours.
Being a smaller, general hospital it’s inevitable you’ll have broadly based experience and be comfortable dealing with the widest range of clinical presentations (with the backup support of on-call specialist senior clinical staff when necessary).
General Physician, Timaru Hospital
As with any area of our operation, you’ll be joining a team of highly skilled professionals motivated to make a difference. With no registrars we have junior doctors on board who are inspired to learn, and you’re just one they will work closely with.
An on-call commitment on a 1 in 6 frequency will be required as will conducting outpatient clinics, while based predominantly within our 24-bed General Medical Ward working closely with three other physicians.
We are particularly interested to hear from you if your sub-specialty interest includes either respiratory medicine, or gastroenterology (but we would definitely consider other sub-specialty areas as well).
Ophthalmologist, Timaru Eye Clinic
You’ll join one other ophthamologist in this busy private practice. While the majority of work undertaken will be within private practice this post includes a 2-tenths appointment for clinical work within the public health system at Timaru Hospital.
Timaru Eye Clinic (www.eyetech.co.nz) is well equipped for general ophthalmology, is ISO 9000 accredited and has a ‘paperless’ work environment with an information system developed by the clinic, now used extensively throughout Australasia.
The clinic has a unique funding structure with a uniprice policy for private and public sectors.
Urologist, Timaru Hospital
Given our size we have just one Urologist on staff. You’ll be part of a surgical team and well supported by General Surgeons. The Department will be yours to take ownership of, including overseeing the purchase of new equipment. There is immense scope to develop and maintain collegial relationship regionally and hence avoid isolation. This is an exciting opportunity to make your individual mark on this role, and to become well known in the local community.
Psychiatrist, Timaru Hospital
Turn your world upside down for all the right reasons – work environment, colleagues and an unparalleled quality of life.
The service, staffed by two long serving psychiatrists, Clinical Director and locums, works within budget, has no waiting lists and is well resourced. Working in the Child and Adolescent Service (0.5), you will also cover the Adult (0.5) and on-call weekend work, using the “Strengths Model” approach to assist client recovery.
Eligible for registration in
We would also consider applications from Psychiatrists seeking a full-time Adult Psychiatric post only (rather than a split Adult/child role).