Scrubs Announcements

Voluntary bonding is an incentive payment scheme that has been introduced by the Government to reward medical, midwifery and nursing graduates who agree to work in hard-to-staff areas.  Graduates who are part of the scheme are eligible for incentive payments intended to help repay their student loans for up to five years. Medical graduates will receive an after-tax payment of $10,000 per year after three years' service in hard-to-staff communities and specialties.

Registrations of interest for Voluntary Bonding in 2010 opened on Monday 22 February 2010 and the Scheme is open to all medical, nursing and midwifery graduates who completed their final year of study in 2009 and who meet the Scheme's eligibility criteria.  This is the only year that 2009 graduates will be eligible to apply.  Applicants will then have until 30 June 2011 to find a job in one of the hard-to-staff communities and start their bonded service.

The online registration of interest form and further information on the Scheme are available on the Ministry of Health's Voluntary Bonding Website www.moh.govt.nz/bonding.  Registrations of interest close on 30 April 2010.

Christchurch and Auckland hosted Scrubs End of Run parties over the weekend and RMOs came out and celebrated in style. Keep an eye on this space for the latest photos and End of Run goss!!

Congratulations to Hugh, winner of a $50 bar tab for dressing up with some Jungle Fever!!

Schools and businesses are being shut down as the Ministry of Health tries to bring the A/H1N1 flu under control. Have your say about this worldwide outbreak in our forum: http://www.scrubs.co.nz/forum/viewforum.php?f=37

Following a request by Resident Medical Officers at Auckland DHB, the RMO Workforce Commission will be holding another meeting to discuss RMO views on the issues facing junior doctors. The meeting is open to all RMOs in the greater Auckland region and the Commission is keen to hear from as many RMOs as possible.

When: Monday, 6 April 2009
Time: 4.30 pm – 6.00 pm
Where: Big Rangitoto Room, Lab Plus, Level 3, Building 31, Grafton Campus
Who: Don Hunn, Chair, Prof. Des Gorman, RMO Commission

Any questions, please contact:
Brenda Wraight, Project Manager, RMO Commission on 027 687 5725
Debbie Hunt, RMO Commission Secretariat, 04 815 9802

I'm a house surgeon in Nelson and, together with the other house surgeons here, we're organising a fundraiser for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation and their "Shave for a Cure" campaign.  We're trying to raise as much money as possible and then heads will be shaved at outside Nelson Hospital cafeteria next tuesday 11/3/09 at lunchtime. If we get to our target of $10000 then I'll shave mine too.

Anyone wanting to donate can go to www.shaveforacure.co.nz   then search for nelson hospital, once on the nelson hospital page scroll to the bottom, click on "Nick Smith" and donate from there.

Thanks heaps,
Rita Upreti

Get your NZMA Logbook!

These useful logbooks are now available from the RMO coordinator at your DHB. Make sure you get your copy now!

The NZMA Leadership Fund aims to support participation by NZMA members, particularly RMOs, trainee interns and medical students, in activities contributing to leadership skills. For more information, go to:

Attention RMOs who love the outdoors. Experience Rural General Practice.

The Postgrarduate Rural General Practice Education Programme provides and opportunity to experience hands-on rural general practice in a supportive and stimulating environment. There is close supervision from and experienced teacher with two hours of one-on-one teaching per weel amd continued contact with peers via teleconferencing. Three month runs are available in rural teaching practices from Te Anua in the South to Rawene in the North.

Those interested in applying should ideally be NZ Graduates in their second or third postgraduate year at the time of the rural run. It is advisable to express your interest at an early stage.

For more information contact John Hillock, the Director of the programme on jhillock@rnzcgp.org.nz