Consultant Emergency Medicine: Whanganui

Whanganui Hospital, on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, supports around 65,000 residents and is the main healthcare centre for 16,000 people in nearby districts. The hospital provides emergency, general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, ENT, ophthalmology, dentistry, and psychiatry. The Emergency Department includes 9 Consultants/SMOs, 12 RMOs (including 3 Registrars), dedicated nursing staff, and a strong allied health team. RMOs work 10-hour shifts starting at 0700, 1000, 1400, and 2200. The department is known for teamwork, open communication, and ongoing improvement. There is a six-bed critical care unit, with further specialised care—like cardio-thoracics, neurosurgery, and paediatric surgery—provided at Wellington Hospital.