WORKFORCE PROJECTIONS

 

	There were 341 anaesthesia specialists active in New Zealand in 2000. This represents a growth of 19 per cent from 1994 and makes anaesthesia the third largest hospital specialty group (if all subspecialties of surgery and medicine are grouped together).
	Some workforce analyses have recommended a specialist to population ratio of 1:10,000. The New Zealand ratio in 2000 was 1:11,235, indicating a shortfall of roughly 40 specialists. Regions that are particularly undersupplied include Northland and Tairawhiti-Hawke’s Bay.