The Medical Council undertook a survey last year to find out why doctors chose to leave New Zealand and what might encourage them to return.

Approximately 55 percent of doctors who were invited to participate in the survey completed it, with a total of 182 surveys completed.

Council chairperson, Dr John Adams says, 'The main reasons identified as factors for leaving New Zealand related to the desire for training opportunities and work experience in overseas settings.'

The survey found the highest proportion of doctors responding to the survey were those registered in a general scope of practice (those not recognised as specialists) who had worked in New Zealand for longer than 3 years. The majority of these doctors worked in general practice, general medical, and surgical runs (house officers and senior house officers), or internal medicine.

Dr Adams says there are a variety of reason doctors have for leaving New Zealand including:

the desire for training opportunities and work experience in overseas settings

increased remuneration

family reasons

improved working conditions

locum opportunities.

The good news from the survey findings was that the majority of doctors leaving New Zealand intend to return.

Their planned length of time overseas was to be less than 3 years, although a significant portion did not know how long they would be away. Some doctors are leaving for reasons which would be expected of doctors with primary medical qualifications (PMQ) gained overseas, such as a desire to be closer to family. Doctors with a PMQ gained in New Zealand were the most likely to return.

Australia was the country of choice for the majority of doctors leaving New Zealand.