The Department of Anaesthesia is based at Christchurch Hospital and provides anaesthetic services to CDHB. The Department provides Anaesthetists for locations spread between Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch Women's Hospital (high risk obstetrics) and Burwood Hospital (orthopaedics). The annual workload consists of approximately 26,000 anaesthetics per year of which approximately 40% are acute admissions.
The Department shares staff with the Pain Management Centre at Burwood Hospital, the Intensive Care Unit, and the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit.
CDHB works closely with the Christchurch School of Medicine’s Department of Anaesthesia, sharing secretarial staff and office space. The Department has a strong academic focus and endeavours to create an environment where research is encouraged and supported.
The Department consists of 42 Specialist Anaesthetists, 4 Medical Officers/Provisional Fellows, 16 Anaesthetic Registrars, 5 Senior House Officers, 39 Anaesthetic Technicians, 2 Staff Nurses and 3 Secretarial/Administration staff.
All of the registrar posts are recognised as training posts by the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. These posts are part of the South Island Training scheme and rotations. Registrar rotations to ICU, Chronic Pain and Timaru will be on a 3-6 monthly basis. Three month registrar training runs are available in:
- Paediatrics
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
Experience is also available in all other surgical sub-specialities including plastics and surgery for patients with spinal injuries.
The registrars provide on site out-of-hours cover at both Christchurch Women's Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. Their roles are predominantly in the operating theatre (or labour ward) but also assist with in-hospital resuscitation. The SHO provides on-site after hours cover of the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit at Burwood and also some out of hours anaesthetic service at Christchurch Hospital.
For further information:
The following document outlines detailed information regarding the South Island Training Programme.
CDHB anaesthesia programme.pdf 154kb
Or contact Dr Jennifer Woods, Supervisor of Training, on +64 (0)3 3640 288
Canterbury Health Laboratories provide a complete range of laboratory services encompass both core laboratory and specialist testing on a 24 hour, seven-day basis.
While Canterbury Health Laboratories’ main site is at Christchurch Hospital with satellite laboratories operating at Burwood and Ashburton Hospitals, it also also provides specialist testing for all North and South Island DHBs and community laboratories. Work is referred to Canterbury Health Laboratories from approximately 35 hospital and private laboratories.
Canterbury Health Laboratories:
Employs over 320 staff and performs approximately three million tests annually from a repertoire of over one thousand different test procedures. Details on the services provided by Canterbury Health Laboratories are available on the Canterbury Health Laboratories test database or here.
Canterbury Health Laboratories are IANZ registered to ISO15189 and Point of Care Testing and Workplace standards. Canterbury Health Laboratories is separated into separate business units for Anatomical Pathology, Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology.
Canterbury Health Laboratories employ (17) Pathologists. It is a training centre for Registrars for the purpose of acquiring final qualification in FRCPA in the pathology branches of Anatomical Pathology, Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology, Genetics and Microbiology with Registrars currently employed in the laboratory in Anatomical Pathology (6), Biochemistry (1), Genetics (1), Microbiology (2) and in Haematology (1)
Canterbury Health Laboratories is a national leader in the provision of specialist testing for DHB and community laboratories, and undertakes research and development within each discipline. Strong relationships are maintained with research and development groups with the University of Otago and other groups outside the DHB.
Canterbury Health Laboratories uses the Sysmex Delphic Laboratory Information System.
Canterbury Health Laboratories has courier systems in place for the transport of specimens throughout New Zealand to and from other laboratories. Results are reported using technology appropriate to the customer, and include on-line computer links, file transfers and facsimile.
The Department of Cardiology manages inpatient and outpatient care for the Canterbury Region providing a full range of advanced invasive procedures and cardiac surgery for a wider region.
Patients are referred to this service by General Practitioners, Emergency Department and other specialist services. The Department includes 2 cardiac catheterisation suites with angioplasty capability, a nine bed Coronary Care Unit and 2 Cardiology Wards. The Inpatient Service area is supported by one of the largest outpatient and rehabilitation services in New Zealand.
The Clinical Director of Cardiology is Dr David Smyth. The department employs 8 other senior cardiologists, 7 registrars and 5 house officers. This medical service forms part of a large multi-disciplinary team comprised of skilled nursing staff, physiotherapists, medical technicians, pharmacist, occupational therapist, social workers and secretarial personnel.
This is an extremely busy department with ongoing commitment to providing the best cardiac care to the people of Canterbury and offers a wide range of experiences to RMOs.
For further information:
Dr David Smyth, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0320
Email: david.smyth@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of Clinical Pharmacology is based at Christchurch Hospital. The Clinical Pharmacology team consists of two consultants, Professor Evan Begg and Dr Murray Barclay, one registrar, four Clinical Pharmacists, a research fellow and a secretary.
The registrar is an advanced trainee who has completed the part one FRACP examination. This position is approved for training by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and combines research activities, clinical medicine and teaching.
The registrar is expected to design and conduct a pharmacology-based research project, which can be related to their area of interest. The registrar is also an integral member of the Therapeutics Drug monitoring Service for Canterbury Health, the Preferred Medicines List committee and the Medicines Advisory committee. One day per week is spent with the Drug Information Service, an advisory service for much of the South Island. The registrar is involved in the Clinical Pharmacology teaching program for the fifth years and Trainee Interns. Other clinical commitments include a one in six on call roster covering Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology.
For further information:
Professor Evan Begg
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 1055
Email: evan.begg@chmeds.ac.nz
The Hospital Dental Service is based at the Oral Health Centre, 16 Tuam Street (under the Christchurch Hospital Car Park). The Oral Health Centre was opened in June 2001 and is a purpose built facility with 18 chairs.
It is a largely outpatient service involved in over 20,000 outpatient contacts per year. Dental Services are provided at Christchurch Hospital, Burwood Hospital, Hillmorton Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital.
The staff of the Dental Service includes all the dental specialists and for more complex cases a multidisciplinary approach is used. Patient eligibility is determined by the Canterbury District Health Board and a wide variety of treatments are provided.
For further information:
Lester Settle, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 250
email: Lester.Settle@cdhb.govt.nz
Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department is a busy department, seeing in excess of 72,000 patients per year. The department deals with the full range of medical and surgical problems and is the tertiary referral centre for trauma in the region. The acuity level of patients seen in this Department is fairly high with an admission rate of over 48%. The Emergency department has a team of 10 Consultants, 18 Registrars and 12 second year or above House Officers. In addition, there are 1-2 first year house officers and 5 Medical Officers. There is a dedicated team of senior nursing staff who provide specialized nursing care, including the triage of all patients entering the system.
There is a regular continuing education programme for the medical staff, held for 3 hours every Tuesday morning including registrar teaching. The Department is accredited for advanced training in Emergency Medicine by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) for two years. Current training rotations include ICU, anaesthesia, paediatrics, general medicine (often cardiology) and orthopaedics.
Patients may self-refer, be transferred by St John Ambulance or police, or by their general practitioner.
For further information:
Dr Angela Pitchford, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0270, extension 80287
email: angela.pitchford@cdhb.govt.nz
or telephone the Departmental Secretary on +64 (0)3 364 0270, extension 89614
1. Clinical Endocrinology
The consultant endocrinologists are Dr Penny Hunt, Dr Steven Soule, Dr David Cole, Dr Anna Fenton and Dr Catherine Conway. Dr Hunt, Dr Cole and Dr Soule also undertake some general medicine admitting.
There is an endocrinology registrar who is normally an advanced trainee in endocrinology. The training of this registrar includes experience in general endocrinology, diabetes, thyroid disease, gynaecologic endocrinology, paediatric endocrinology and bone disorders.
The Endocrinology Service provides endocrinology out-patient services, in-patient consultations, and the Service is also involved in specialist clinics with the Paediatrics Department (Dr Karen MacKenzie, Paediatric Endocrinologist) and at Women's Health (Dr Fenton). Thyroid clinics are within the department of Nuclear Medicine (Dr John Turner and Dr Penny Hunt) and Bone Clinics are based at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The majority of work is out-patient based but a small number of patients are admitted for investigation and management. There is close co-operation with radiologists, neurosurgeons and an endocrine surgeon in the care of patients.
2. Diabetes Centre
The Diabetes Centre is based in a separate building just off the Christchurch Hospital site at 550 Hagley Avenue. Consultant medical staff members are Drs Helen Lunt, Peter Moore, , David Cole, Catherine Conway and Steven Soule and Professor Russell Scott. Drs Cole, Moore, Scott and Soule are also involved in General Medicine admitting.
The Diabetes Centre provides a multidisciplinary team approach to the management of diabetes and other members of the team include diabetes nurse specialists, dietitians, podiatrists, psychologists, Maori health workers and a Pacific Island nurse. The Centre provides an out-patient service, including an acute intervention service which can be accessed by general practitioners with urgent diabetes problems. A consultation service is also provided for hospital in-patients.
Registrar staffing is provided by 2 Diabetes Registrars (generally advanced trainees in endocrinology or general medicine) and the general medical registrars attached to the General Medicine teams of the diabetes consultants.
Two weekly joint medical and obstetric clinics are held at Christchurch Women's Hospital for patients with diabetes complicating pregnancy. This is joined with a general obstetric medicine high risk clinic, the physician input coming from Drs Cole and Moore as well as Dr Ruth Hughes, Obstetric Physician. The Diabetes Registrars have involvement with these clinics.
3. Endocrinology Laboratory
This provides a high quality diagnostic laboratory service in endocrinology and is alongside Clinical Endocrinology. It is part of a supra-regional service and is the only provider in New Zealand for a number of specialised tests.
For further information:
Dr Peter Moore, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0307
Email: peter.moore@cdhb.govt.nz
This service is covered medically by four gastroenterologists, two Registrars and one house officer. The Registrar positions are filled by a mix of Registrars training in Gastroenterology and Medical Registrars gaining experience in Gastroenterology as part of a general medical training programme.
Most patients are managed on an out-patient basis with only modest numbers admitted for more detailed investigations and management. An in-patient consultative service is provided. These positions provide excellent opportunities for experience in clinical Gastroenterology.
Regular meetings are held for radiology, histopathology, case reviews and journal type reviews.
For further information:
Dr Bruce Chapman, Clinical Director, telephone +64 (0)3 3640 640 extension 80920
email: bruce.chapman@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of General and Vascular Surgery provides a comprehensive acute and elective surgical service to the people of Canterbury and a wide ranging tertiary service to the South Island. It is a very busy department with over 6600 admissions per year (70% of which are acute) and 10,000 outpatient visits.
The elective sub-specialties of colorectal, upper gastro-intestinal, hepato-biliary and breast/endocrine are covered by 12 general surgeons, and there are 3 vascular surgeons who also cover the renal transplant service. Clinical fellows are attached to the colorectal and upper gastro-intestinal teams.
Currently there are 12 registrars most of whom are working towards their FRACS qualification and 3 relieving registrars and 8 house officers attached to the department. There is a specific teaching programme for all RMOs and all are encouraged to attend theatres, outpatients and the regular departmental, audit and multi - disciplinary meetings.
The Consultants are closely associated with the University Department of Surgery from the School of Medicine, with Professor Frizelle as the academic head of this University department. All Consultants undertake teaching of medical students during their attachment to the service.
For further information:
Mr Greg Robertson, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0445
Email: greg.robertson@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of General Medicine deals with approximately 10,000 acute admissions per year. These are cared for by twelve acute medical teams each with a group of consultants, a medical registrar, and a house officer. Trainee Interns from the Christchurch School of Medicine are often assigned to these teams. Two acute teams are on every 24 hours and thus the teams work a 1 in 6 roster.
Almost all the house officers and all the registrars do some defined sub-specialty work ranging from dermatology to oncology and gastroenterology to respiratory medicine. All the General Medicine consultants do sub-specialty work.
The Department of General Medicine interfaces with all Internal Medicine departments but is developing closer links with Health Care of the Elderly.
For further information:
Dr David Jardine, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 378 6010
Email: david.jardine@cdhb.govt.nz
The Haematology Department employs 5 Registrars and 1 House Officer. The Clinical Unit is based in a purpose-built facility and performs approximately 40 bone marrow transplants a year for the whole of the South Island. It also takes referrals for all haematological conditions throughout the upper 2/3 of the South Island. Many of the patients are involved in internationally based trials, particularly those of the United Kingdom Medical Research Council. We are also involved in number of drug trials.
The department has a very active Haemostasis, bone marrow processing and Surface Markers Unit, as well as General Haematology. We work in very close liaison with the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre and the Haematology molecular group in Molecular Pathology. There are two internationally recognised research labs attached to the department. Six Consultant staff work in the department.
The 5 Registrars rotate through the Ward, Outpatients, Laboratory, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Transfusion Medicine. There is an active, well-organised teaching programme, and the Registrar posts are approved for training by the Royal Australasian Colleges of Physicians and Pathologists.
For further information:
Dr Peter Ganly, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0399
Email: peter.ganly@cdhb.govt.nz
The Infection Control Service, is staffed by the coordinating Infection Control Officer, the Infection Control Nurse for Christchurch Hospital and the Microbiologist. Part-time Infection Control Nurses are employed at Burwood Hospital and Ashburton Hospital. The Service also provides Infection Control for Hillmorton Hospital Site (formerly Sunnyside Hospital), which employs an Infection Control Nurse on site.
The service organizes regular meetings of the Infection Control Committee, which is a multi-disciplinary committee, representing the different clinical services. All protocols and guidelines are prepared by the Infection Control Operational Group. These are then presented to and approved by the Infection Control Committee.
Please note that ALL new RMO staff require MRSA clearance before commencement.
The Infectious Diseases Service at Christchurch Hospital offers both inpatient and outpatient services. The major areas covered by this service are HIV/AIDS, tropical medicine, advice on antibiotics and treatment of other infections involving any system. This includes skin, soft tissue, abdominal, CNS, cardiovascular, prosthetic device infections, respiratory etc. We also have an interest in problems such as chronic staphylococcal disease, herpes simplex and difficult to treat cellulitis. We are currently developing a home intravenous antibiotic therapy service in conjunction with Nurse Maude District Nursing Service.
For further information:
Dr Steve Chambers
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640 extension 80954 or beep 394
email: steve.chambers@cdhb.govt.nz
Infectious Diseases Registrar
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640 beep 8178
Departmental Fax: +64 (0)3 364 0952
Christchurch Hospital Intensive Care Unit provides tertiary care for the greater South Island. Intensive Care is provided for General Medical, General Surgical, Neurosurgical and Cardiothoracic Surgical patients. Spinal Injury care is also provided for the South Island and half the North Island. Intensive Care is provided for paediatric patients although long term or complex paediatric intensive care patients are transferred to Starship Children’s Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Auckland.
The Department admits approximately 1150 patients a year to include 350 Cardiac Surgical and 50 Paediatric patients. Of the remaining adult admissions over 90% are emergency medical or surgical admissions from the Ward, Operating Theatre, Recovery or Emergency Department.
The Department is staffed by 3 full time and 2 part time Intensive Care Specialists, 2 Senior Intensive Care Registrars and 15.5 rotating Registrars. The Department runs a weekly 3 hour Continuing Education and Quality Assurance Programme, including a Journal Club, Medical Presentation, Registrar Tutorial and QA presentation.
For further information:
Dr Seton Henderson, Deputy Director, ICU
Phone +64 (0)3 364 0643
Fax: +64 (0)3 364 0099
Email: seton.henderson@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of Nephrology provides a full range of nephrology services for the people of Canterbury and consultative general nephrology services for the people of the West Coast. In addition to this, it provides dialysis and transplant services for West Coast DHB and a kidney transplant service for Otago and Southland.
Services provided include diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with all forms of kidney disease, provision of inpatient, outpatient and day patient nephrology services and operation of the Home Dialysis Training Centre and Acute Dialysis Unit. Provision (together with the Department of Surgery) of deceased and live donor kidney transplant services is also provided for Canterbury, West Coast, Otago and Southland.
For further information:
Professor David McGregor, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0655 extension: 89523
Email: david.mcgregor@cdhb.govt.nz
The Neurology Unit consists of the Neurology Ward, the Neurophysiology Department, outpatient services and secretarial services. The ward is shared with the Department of Neurosurgery, and there is a close day-to-day working association between the two Departments.
The Unit is staffed by six Consultant Neurologists, two Registrars and one House Officer. There is also a Neuroscience House Officer, who works within both Neurology and Neurosurgery.
The Registrars and House Officers are responsible for the admission and clerking of inpatients, for their routine day-to-day medical care and for involvement in outpatient clinics and consultative work. They work closely with consultant staff on a daily basis. In addition to hands-on experience in clinical neurology, Registrars and House Officers have the opportunity to observe neurophysiology recordings (EEG, nerve conduction/EMG, evoked potential recordings) and to learn the diagnostic role of these, in addition to attending weekly neuroradiology review meetings. The Department is actively involved in both undergraduate and post-graduate teaching.
For further information:
Dr P Parkin, Clinical Director
Ph +64 (0)3 3640 640 extension: 80940
Email: phil.parkin@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of Neurosurgery is based at Christchurch Hospital with adult patients and access to the Paediatric Wards, Neonatal Unit, ICU etc.
There are now over 600 neurosurgical operations performed annually, of which less than 5% comprise acute trauma and the greater proportion are for conditions such as intracranial aneurysms (both clipping and endovascular coiling), intracranial and spinal tumours, spinal degenerative conditions, disc lesions, treatment of hydrocephalus and peripheral nerve surgery etc.
There are three consultant neurosurgeons and three registrars, one accredited by The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for an advanced vocational neurosurgical trainee, one accredited for a commencing/basic neurosurgical trainee registrar and the third is allocated to a rotating basic surgical registrar.
There are two house officers, one being shared with the Neurology Department. There is a high level of support and supervision from the consultants and registrars for the house officers. There are four full days elective surgery per week and three half day outpatient clinics per week.
The unit is very well supported by a full range of other surgical and medical specialties and has ready access to modern imaging (including CT, MRI, U/S, DSA), Christchurch Hospital has a well-established PACS system for accessing all imaging. We also are well supported by and work closely with the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering and together produce surgical equipment and implants - specifically custom-built cranial prostheses/plates.
For further information:
Mr M R MacFarlane, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 1217
Email: martin.macfarlane@cdhb.govt.nz
Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatal services for the Canterbury region are now based in the brand new purpose built Christchurch Women’s Hospital. There are over 5000 births per year and the hospital is also a tertiary referral centre for the South Island for areas such as Maternal Fetal Medicine, Gynaecologic Oncology, Assisted Fertility Treatment and Advanced Gynaecologic Endoscopy for Endometriosis.
The department has 15 Consultants, 1 Tutor Specialist, 10 Registrars, 1 Senior House Officer, and 8 House Officers. Trainee Interns are also an integral part of the clinical team.
House Officers are encouraged to do the Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology or the Certificate in Women’s Health. There is a House Officer tutorial programme in addition to other departmental meetings.
Registrars need to have done at least 6 months as a House Officer in O&G, but preferably more before applying for Registrar posts. A Senior House Officer position has been introduced in 2005, with the specific aim of preparing House Officers for Registrar positions. Feedback has been that this has been a very worthwhile way of bridging the gap. There is protected Registrar education time in addition to departmental meetings.
There are close links with the School of Medicine, with many consultants involved in teaching. The medical students have consistently voted the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and its administration staff as their best experience over the last few years.
For further information:
Telephone Christchurch Women's Hospital +64 (0)3 3644 699
Mary Olliver, Clinical Director
Phone: 03 364 4340
Email: mary.olliver@cdhb.govt.nz
Aleida Van Montfort, Clinician Support (Admin)
Email: aleida.vanmontfort@cdhb.govt.nz
Older Persons’ Health provides a comprehensive range of geriatric and old age psychiatry services. This includes assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, psychogeriatric care, community assessment and consult liaison.
Services include a dedicated Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, an Orthogeriatric service and a Delirium Service, a Memory Clinic and a Psychiatry of Old Age Academic Unit. The service is based at The Princess Margaret Hospital providing inpatient beds for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as beds for psychogeriatrics. In addition there are two Day Hospitals, one each for the medical and psychogeriatric services and large Community Services.
There are 8 House Officers and 10 Medical Registrars on rotations. These runs provide excellent teaching opportunities in both geriatric and general medicine and there are regular departmental education sessions. The department is recognised as being an excellent place for Advanced Trainees in Geriatric Medicine to train.
For further information:
Dr Jeff Kirwan, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 337 7899
Email: jeff.kirwan@cdhb.govt.nz
Dr Sarah Hurring, RMO Supervisor
Ph: +64 (0)3 337 7899
Email: sarah.hurring@cdhb.govt.nz
The Oncology Service, Christchurch Hospital, incorporates the departments of Radiation and Medical Oncology. It is a busy unit and we offer a full range of outpatient and inpatient services for the non-surgical management of cancer. There is close liaison with the Department of Haematology and autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are available, where appropriate.
The Service embodies a multidisciplinary team approach with close liaisons with diagnostic and support services and medical and surgical colleagues. There are twelve consultant oncologists, a palliative care physician and six oncology registrar training positions. There are also 2 house officers on the service.
Visiting outpatient consultation services are provided to Timaru Hospital, Grey Hospital and Nelson Hospital.
For further information:
Dr Iain Ward, Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 020 ext: 81789
Email: ian.ward@cdhb.govt.nz
Dr Bridget Robinson, Clinical Director of Medical Directory
Phone: 03 364 0020 ext: 80361
Email: bridget.robinson@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of Ophthalmology at Christchurch Hospital, provides services at a secondary and tertiary level to the people of Canterbury and Westland and provides tertiary level services to the South Island and quaternary level to people of New Zealand.
The service consists of nine consultant ophthalmologists, four vocational trainees, two non-vocational training registrars and one House Officer. The Department has a staff of 45 in total.
For those doctors wanting to become a vocational trainee in ophthalmology with the College of Ophthalmologists, full details regarding the registration process can be found on this downloadable document Ophthalmology VR Application Process.pdf 47kb.
Further information regarding deadlines, application forms and the application process can also be found on the RANZCO website.
Note, that for applicants for vocational training positions, you must contact Ainsley Morris . Applicants for non-training positions can send standard CV's to RMO Unit.
For further information:
Allan Simpson, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0975 ext: 80975
Email: allan.simpson@cdhb.govt.nz
The Orthopaedic Surgery Department is located at Christchurch Hospital, this area consists of the Academic Department, and Wards including the Trauma Unit. The Outpatient Department has access to the Emergency Department. Outpatient consultations are made up from referrals from Emergency Department, the wards and GP’s.
All Trauma Surgery is carried out at Christchurch Hospital in a designated Orthopaedic Theatre, and Elective Surgery is carried out at Burwood Hospital where there are three theatres, two wards, and outpatient services. One of the wards concentrates on orthogeriatric rehabilitation.
For further information:
Mr John McKie, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640
The Department of Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery) has seven part-time Consultants, two Advanced Trainee Registrars, and one Basic Trainee Registrar (who rotates through other surgical specialties) and two House Officers. The department has one Ward which it shares with the Department of Ophthalmology. The Department covers the full range of the specialty.
As well as all the routine common and traditional conditions usually handled in otolaryngology departments, services also include Endocscopic sinus surgery, rhinoplasty and otoplasty, investigation and treatment of sleep disorders, paediatric otolaryngology and airway problems, reconstructive middle ear surgery, surgical treatment of head and neck cancers, skull base surgery, otoneurology and otoneurosurgery and cochlear implantation.
A 24 hour acute service is provided. Typically this involves cases with severe epistaxis, foreign bodies in airways or oesophagus, facial and soft tissue neck injury, facial pharyngeal and deep space infections in the head and neck, etc.
For further information:
Mr Mark Ward, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640
Email: mark.ward@cdhb.govt.nz
The Paediatric Department provides inpatient and outpatient medical care for children up to 15 years of age in Canterbury, the West Coast, and, increasingly, regions further afield. Additionally, neonatologists from the Department along with registrars from the Department provide level III and Level II neonatal care at the Womens' Hospital.
The Paediatric Service at Canterbury DHB is the tertiary centre for Paediatric Oncology for the South Island. The service at Christchurch Hospital cares for approximately 6,000 inpatients along with approximately 12,000 outpatients and daypatients. At the Womens' Hospital, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides intensive care of all children requiring such care born at Womens' Hospital along with a considerable number of children transferred into Christchurch from other areas. Additionally, the Department is supplying an increasing number of outreach clinics to other cities including Dunedin and Invercargill.
For further information:
Clare Doocey, Clinical Director
ph: +64 03 3640 640 ext: 88568
clare.doocey@cdhb.govt.nz
The Department of Paediatric Surgery is a small but active unit that provides inpatient/outpatient surgical care for the children of Canterbury and the West Coast as well as providing outreach paediatric surgical services to Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Blenheim and Nelson.
All general paediatric surgery on children up to the age of 15 are admitted under this unit. The unit also provides a surgical neonatal service to the neonatal unit at Womens' Hospital. The unit runs weekly outpatient clinics, elective operating sessions and provides 24 hour emergency cover for paediatric surgery. It works closely with both the departments of Paediatrics and Surgery. Major or complex cases are referred from Greymouth, Dunedin, Invercargill, Timaru, Blenheim and Nelson, and occasionally from the North Island.
For further information:
Professor Spencer W Beasley, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 364 0432
Fax: +64 (0)3 364 0352
Email: spencer.beasley@cdhb.govt.nz
The Christchurch Hospital Palliative Care Service was established in 1999. It is a consultation service located within the Oncology Department. Most referrals are received from Christchurch Hospital but the service also provides advice and reviews to patients in The Princess Margaret Hospital, the Women’s Hospital, Hillmorton Hospital and Burwood Hospital. The Service also runs a weekly outpatient clinic seeing both follow ups and new referrals. kate.grundy@cdhb.govt.nz
The service receives both oncology and non-oncology referrals, liaises closely with community services and provides a comprehensive programme of specialist education in Palliative Care.
For further information:
Email:
Or Palliative Care office on +64 (0)3 364 1473 extension: 81473
The Plastic Surgery Unit’s annual workload consists of inpatients and outpatient attendances. The elective case load includes cleft lip and palate surgery, surgery for breast reconstruction following mastectomy, reconstruction of head and neck surgical defects following resection of malignancy and resection of skin malignancies. The acute case load consists of management of hand trauma including microsurgical replantation, management of burns and traumatic skin loss, and the management of facial lacerations and fractures.
For further information:
Barnaby Nye, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640 extension: 80157
Email: barnaby.nye@cdhb.govt.nz
The CDHB Mental Health Service is the largest in the country and the division offers a wide range of rehabilitation, mental health and psychiatry inpatient and outpatient services. There is also a Maori Mental Health Team, which works in conjunction with other services. Psychiatry Services for the Elderly are also large but are housed within the Older Persons Health Division.
For information about the Psychiatric Registrar Training Programme, please contact the Director of the Training Programme - Dr Matthew Croucher - telephone +64 (0)3 377 0258. Intakes into training occur in June and December each year.
Applications for public health training are dealt with by the NZ office of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM). The AFPHM website is very informative and clearly sets out the application and selection process.
For successful candidates the first part of training is in an academic setting where registrars complete a MPH degree as their part one of training. After part one there is usually a period in a DHB public health unit followed by other placements. Training finishes with passing a final exam at the end of the 4 yr programme. The training programme for registrars is coordinated by the national Faculty office. In the South Island much of this coordination is provided on behalf of the Faculty by the Regional Director of Training (RDoT). Dr Lynley Cook is the South Island RDoT.
Overseas graduates can find information about obtaining NZ registration here.
The department provides a complete range of diagnostic radiology services to Christchurch Hospital, Burwood Hospital and Christchurch Women's Hospital on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis. The department is organized to provide secondary and tertiary radiology services to the people of Canterbury, and to a wider South Island population. A limited range of radiology service is provided to patients referred from general practitioners and private specialists.
The department operates from a principal site at Christchurch Hospital with satellite sites at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and Burwood Hospital. The radiology service performs approximately 160,000 examinations per year.
In June 2005, the first 64-slice multidetector CT scanner in New Zealand was installed. A full range of imaging techniques are performed including high level Cardiac CT and CT Colonography.
For further information:
Dr Adrian Balasingam, Supervisor of Registrar Training
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640 extension: 80770
If you have any enquiries concerning registrar training positions in Diagnostic Radiology please contact:
Gail Le Claire, Executive Officer
Ph: +64 (0)4 472 6470
Fax +64 (0)4 472 6474
Email: nzbranch@ranzcr.org.nz
www.ranzcr.edu.au
RANZCR
PO Box 10 424
Wellington
New Zealand
Respiratory Services provides secondary level care for patients with respiratory disorders on an inpatient, outpatient and domiciliary basis throughout the North Canterbury Region. It also acts as a tertiary referral centre for the northern half of the South Island.
At Christchurch Hospital there is a specialist inpatient ward. This caters for patients with acute respiratory illness and those requiring hospitalization for respiratory investigations and treatment. There is a dedicated area for the provision of non invasive ventilation using BiPAP. This currently is mainly used for patients with severe COPD. The outpatient service is separate from but located within the outpatient area of Christchurch Hospital.
For further information:
Dr Michael Epton, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640
Email: michael.epton@cdhb.govt.nz
The Rheumatology and Immunology Service provides inpatient, outpatient, day patient and inter-hospital consultative services for patients with rheumatic disease, primary immunodeficiency and serious allergy.
Two Rheumatologists, a Rheumatology Registrar and one Clinical Immunologist run the clinical service. The Clinical Immunologist also has commitments to the Immunology Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories. The Registrar position is accredited for rheumatology advanced training. The service has also been accredited for joint physician and pathology training in clinical immunology Clinical research and student teaching is encouraged.
For further information:
Dr John O’Donnell, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 950
These services are based at Burwood Hospital. There are two registrar positions in these areas, one of which is usually filled by an advanced trainee for the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
The registrars join the Spinal Unit and the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service teams. Under the consultant supervision, the registrars are responsible for the day to day clinical assessment and management of patients with spinal cord and brain injuries, including young stroke patients between ages 15 and 65 years.
The positions provide in depth clinical exposure to acute management and rehabilitation as well as long term follow up for spinal cord injury patients and rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury and stroke patients. Training is provided through NZAFRM training programme.
For further information:
Dr Richard Acland, Medical Director, Burwood Hospital
Ph: +64 (0)3 383 6851
Fax: +64 (0)3 383 6851
Email: RickA@cdhb.govt.nz
Or Dr Xiong FAFRM, NZFAFRM Training Coordinator
Ph: +64 (0)3 383 6851
Fax: +64 (0)3 383 6851
Email: xiongxl@xtra.co.nz
The Department of Urology deals with a full range of urological services for the people of Canterbury. It also provides a tertiary referral service for the South Island. The ward is combined with the Nephrology ward, providing urological management of renal transplants. Special interests include spinal injuries management.
For further information:
Mr Stephen Mark, Clinical Director
Ph: +64 (0)3 3640 640