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Useful experience for surgeons includes:

• work in hospitals or health clinics
• work caring for people.

Surgeons may do some or all of the following:

• examine patients and decide whether operations are needed
• consult with other medical professionals about patient care and treatment
• perform and manage operations
• instruct and manage patients' post-operative care
• check on patients' progress while they are in hospital
• keep medical records and send final reports to general practitioners
• provide follow-up care for patients
• teach medical students and trainee surgeons
• carry out research.

Number of factors contribute to shortage of surgeons

The shortage of surgeons is due to:

• New Zealand's growing and ageing population, which means increasing demand for surgeons to perform age-related surgeries
• an ageing workforce – nearly a third of specialist doctors, including surgeons, are over 55 years old and due to retire in the next 10 years
• some surgeons moving overseas for better pay and working conditions
• a worldwide shortage of specialist doctors, which means it can be hard for New Zealand to attract surgeons from overseas to work here.

General surgeon, the largest surgical specialisation, Cardiothoracic surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Orthopaedic surgeon, Vascular surgeon and Urologist appear on Immigration New Zealand's Green List.

This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled surgeons from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Surgeons third largest group of doctors

There are 859 registered surgeons in New Zealand according to the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Surgeons work for public and private hospitals

Surgeons work in public and private hospitals, and may also work in university medical schools.

• Te Whatu Ora employs all surgeons who work in public hospitals.
• Private hospitals usually employ surgeons on a casual basis.
• The medical schools at the Universities of Auckland and Otago employ surgeons in teaching and research roles.

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

reception.desk@surgeons.org - www.surgeons.org

Medical Council of New Zealand

0800 286 801 - www.mcnz.org.nz

Surgeons may progress to teach students and trainee surgeons at larger hospitals. Surgeons can also become clinical directors, combining an administrative role with a surgical one.

Surgeons can specialise in a number of roles including:

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Cardiothoracic surgeons treat diseases and injuries of the heart, lungs and chest wall.

General Surgeon

General surgeons treat diseases and injuries of the abdomen, breast and endocrine (glandular) organs.

Neurosurgeon

Neurosurgeons diagnose and treat patients with disorders of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system including their supportive structures and blood supply.

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Orthopaedic surgeons treat diseases and injuries of the bones, joints, muscles and soft tissue.

Otolaryngologist

Otolaryngologists treat diseases and injuries of the head and neck.

Paediatric Surgeon

Paediatric surgeons diagnose and treat children who may require surgery. This includes the management of congenital abnormalities both ante-natally and in the neonatal period and the management of major trauma in children.

Plastic or Reconstructive Surgeon

Plastic or reconstructive surgeons correct or restore body function or appearance for aesthetic or therapeutic reasons.

Urologist

Urologists diagnose and treat disorders of the urinary tracts in males and females, and male genital organs. It also includes the management of trauma to these organs and the management of male sterilisation, infertility and sexual dysfunction.

Vascular surgeon

Vascular surgeons diagnose and treat patients with disorders of the blood vessels (arteries and veins outside the heart and brain) and the lymphatic system.

Surgeons need to be:

• accurate and careful, with an eye for detail
• motivated and disciplined
• quick and efficient
• able to work well under pressure
• able to make good decisions, and solve problems
• good time managers
• excellent at analysis and interpretation
• good at report writing
• good at communicating and inspiring confidence in others
• understanding of other cultures' attitudes to medical treatment.