Marlborough chosen for rural medicine infusion

Marlburians affected by impacted health systems stand to get some relief from a rural health programme which will bring doctors-in-training to the region.

Marlborough Primary Health, in partnership with Nelson Bays Primary Health Trust, was selected to provide practical education for the University of Waikato's Graduate School of Medicine. The country's third medical school will open in 2028; Marlborough and Nelson each will build a Community Clinical Learning Centre to start the training in 2029.

Minister of Health Simeon Brown and the university announced Marlborough and Nelson as one of five regions which will participate – along with Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki/Whanganui and Hawke's Bay – as well as a new process across all three medical schools for clinical placements.

"We know that where doctors train often influences where they practise," the minister said in Thursday afternoon's announcement. "By embedding students in regional and rural communities, we're creating a pathway for more doctors to stay and work in the areas that need them most."

Doctors-in-training will spend two years in the region gaining experience at Wairau Hospital and Nelson Hospital, medical practices, urgent care centres and community clinics. No other South Island areas were chosen.

"The healthy, long-standing relationships that Marlborough Primary Health has built with Council and local iwi have come to fruition with this win for the region," MPH Chair Mark Peters said.

MPH Chief Executive Beth Tester told Marlborough App that Council is helping with land for the new facility and iwi with housing for the trainees. Marlborough will accommodate eight doctors-in-training from each year's class, building up to 32 per year.

Beth pointed to "persistent shortages" of doctors and nurses "despite the collective efforts of our healthcare providers and wider community to attract, support and retain workers". This programme presents "the opportunity to improve the pipeline" for practitioners "and ease the increasing strain on our excellent but pressured hospitals and primary care clinics."

Read more about this development in the next issue of Marlborough Weekly.