Changes to visa regulations could pave the way for the Southern District Health Board to recruit up to 15 much needed new staff. Over the weekend the Government removed the visa exemption expiry date for critical healthcare workers, a change which should ease the way for medical organisations to arrange mutually suitable start dates. Board recruitment manager Jayne Jepson said the SDHB had two clinical psychologists, three registered nurses and 10 senior medical officer recruits to whom the change would make a difference. "The removal of the visa exception expiry date for critical health workers will enable us to now have more flexibility for offers of employment to start any time," Ms Jepson said. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, which had lobbied for the change, was pleased it had been listened to.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2021 15:33 UTC