MARK TAYLOR/STUFF

Waikato DHB acting chief medical officer Dr Rees Tapsell said the health board had upped its game in the support it gives young doctors (file photo).

Waikato Hospital's accreditation for the training of young doctors has been extended through to May - but it comes with several clauses.

The Waikato DHB was put on notice by the Medical Council of New Zealand in September over its training of young doctors.

A review found the health board did not meet four of 22 sets of standards. It was given six months to remedy the shortcomings or face being stripped of its accreditation.

After a follow-up visit in April, the medical council has agreed to extent the DHB's accreditation for prevocational medical training through to May but has given the health board six areas to work on.

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Prevocational training spans the two years following a doctor's graduation from med school.

The DHB has been directed to better manage the workload of senior doctors to allow them more time to supervise and train young doctors.

Council assessors found senior doctors' workloads was compromising their ability to oversee interns.

Waikato DHB acting chief medical officer Dr Rees Tapsell said the health board had worked hard to lift its game since the medical council's visit in September.

Although it still had areas to work on, the hospital offered good support to its young doctors, Tapsell said.

Freeing up senior doctors to spend more time supervising and training young doctors could be achieved in two ways: recruit more doctors or help senior doctors focus on things specific to their roles.

Currently the DHB is reviewing and mapping its clinical services. Part of that process will be to assess where it needs to recruit more staff.

"It's fair to say the DHB is, and has been for quite some time, under quite a lot of pressure," Tapsell said.

"I freely acknowledge that we are likely to have to look at increases in both our junior and senior medical staff."

In its latest report, the medical council said it was clear there had been a positive shift in the attitude of the Waikato DHB toward training interns.

The council said it was also mindful that the DHB had experienced significant management change in recent times.

Disgraced health boss Nigel Murray quit as Waikato DHB chief executive in October, partway through an investigation which found he had misspent health dollars.

However, the medical council has put the DHB on notice over the workload of young doctors during their 13-week clinical experience in the surgical department. 

The medical council wants the DHB to reduce the workload of young doctors to provide them more opportunities for learning in general surgery.

The council said young doctors' workloads has to be addressed by August 1 to ensure a safe working environment and to allow for effective teaching.

A failure to satisfactorily address these concerns could result in the DHB losing accreditation status for the affected clinical experiences in surgery, the council said.

 - Stuff