There were 499 active surgeons working in New Zealand in
2000. This reflects a growth of 29% from 1994.
The largest subspecialty areas are general surgery and
orthopaedic surgery, with 29% of the surgical workforce in each
of these fields.
In 2005 there were 55 advanced trainees in general surgery
in New Zealand.
The recommended specialist to population ratio is 1:6800. In
New Zealand the ratio is about 1:7700, representing a shortfall
of 63 surgeons. This varies from one specialty to another: there
is no shortfall in cardiothoracic or orthopaedic surgery but a
significant shortfall in urology and neurosurgery. (For further
information about workforce projections, see the discussions of
each surgical subspecialty that follow this chapter.)
The recommended general surgeon to population ratio is
1:21,500. The actual ratio in New Zealand in 2000 was 1:26,421,
representing a slight shortfall.1
1 The Health Workforce: A Training Programme Analysis, CTA, 2001, 100-104
