MEDIA RELEASE
27 February 2004
Hawke’s Bay selected to become a teaching DHB
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board chief executive, Chris Clarke, said he was delighted to announce that Hawke’s Bay had
been selected to become a ‘Teaching DHB’ and would be welcoming the first intake of medical students to its campus next
year.
“Hawke’s Bay has a growing reputation as an innovative DHB, and being selected to become a teaching DHB is an absolute
credit to the management and clinical team who have been working on this project.
“We will provide a curriculum through the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine, and we are working in
partnership with EIT who will provide accommodation and academic support for trainee doctors. EIT CEO, Bruce Martin,
said there was a great deal of goodwill between the three key parties involved: the DHB, EIT and the Wellington School
of Medicine. “We are breaking new ground here in Hawke’s Bay, and EIT is thrilled to be part of this development,” Mr
Martin said.
While details of the training provided in Hawke’s Bay are still being finalised, it is likely to include a strong
primary and rural component. The trend is towards more and more care being delivered in community settings and by
multi-disciplinary teams. Senior clinician with HBDHB, John Wakeman, said senior medical staff were excited and
stimulated by the prospect of having medical students training in Hawke’s Bay.
“We are aiming to become a centre of excellence for training doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and health
managers,” Chris Clarke said. “In tandem with the construction of a new Acute Assessment Unit, plans are advanced for an
education suite complete with lecture theatre, expanded library, meeting break-out rooms, a clinical skills laboratory,
computer training room and computers for on-line interactive training.
Board chair, and trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Medical Research Foundation, Kevin Atkinson, said currently millions of
dollars earmarked for Medical Research, was directed out of the region. “With Hawke’s Bay becoming a Teaching DHB, the
Foundation will be keen to support research projects carried out in Hawke’s Bay,” Kevin Atkinson said.
“I am delighted at this initiative and congratulate all those involved in getting this project off the ground,” Mr
Atkinson said.
Dean of the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, John Nacey, said the university was
looking forward to working with HBDHB and EIT to develop the programme. “We believe there are benefits for all
organisations involved, and importantly, for the wider Hawke’s Bay community.
“We are in the throes of making the most radical changes to the medical school curriculum to ensure the doctors who
train in New Zealand are well equipped to meet the demands of the changing health sector, where there is an increasing
focus on primary care,” John Nacey said.
"Board member and local dentist David Marshall greeted the announcement enthusiastically. He said the Board has been
most positive in supporting this initiative and welcomed the plans. "As well as the obvious benefits of training medical
students in our local hospital and community, other allied health professional groups will certainly wish to be involved
and will be initiating discussions with their respective training organisations," he said. “The benefits in attracting
research, academic affiliations and incentives for prospective professional and managerial staff are considerable,”
David Marshall added.
It is likely that the first intake next year will include up to 15 medical students for 12 weeks at a time, building up
to 50 medical students by 2007
END