Money spent on locum doctors hits new high

Money spent on locum doctors hits new high

July 21, 2026 · 5 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the rising costs of locum doctors in the health system and the need for more effective recruitment strategies.

The amount of money spent on temporary doctors to plug gaps in the health system has hit a new high, topping $200 million for the third year in a row. Health NZ says it is working hard to recruit specialists and has even cut the budget for locums. But others in the health sector say more drastic action is needed to bring the spend under control and incentivise doctors to stay on our shores. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

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Guest: Jimmy Ellingham

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Organizations: Health NZ

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