New Zealand has a very well developed
healthcare system and is famous for having an
extremely comprehensive healthcare system modelled
on the UK National Health Service.
The clinical practice in New Zealand tends to
be a mixture of the UK evidence-based healthcare
model and the more innovative US style of
medicine.
The major provider of healthcare services in
New Zealand is the Public Health System but
private healthcare facilities are widely
available. This is a comprehensive free-of-charge
healthcare service for all New Zealand citizens
covering both hospital-based and community-based
medical services.
Those who have experienced working in New
Zealand will always compare it very favourably to
working in other countries. As a rule, New
Zealanders (both patients and staff) are very laid
back and so this creates a very informal and
friendly working environment.
Due to the fact New Zealand is sparsely
populated and has a relatively large land mass
area, the role of a Family Practitioner (GP) in
many parts of New Zealand is extended beyond that
performed by GPs in other parts of the world. It
is not uncommon for Family Practitioners to
perform minor operations, obstetrics and some may
even provide limited anaesthetics services too.
The actual hospitals in New Zealand as a rule
tend to be very well equipped with all the latest
technology and facilities.
With comprehensive healthcare available to all
New Zealanders, the standard of healthcare
is extremely high. Over the last ten years there
has been a large increase in the availability of
protocols, clinical guidelines, evidence based
methodology and innovative research coming out of
New Zealand and now it is widely acknowledged that
the clinical practice in New Zealand is as
up-to-date as anywhere else in the western world.
Healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses
hold far greater power and authority in New
Zealand within the hospital system than is usually
found in other countries. Professional groups
representing nurses and doctors are very strong
here with most of the hospital directors and
senior managerial staff being doctors and
nurses themselves and so protect the interests of
healthcare workers well.
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