A major Melbourne hospital “stretched to the limit” by the pandemic has launched a unique campaign to encourage doctors, including GPs, to help out for a few months.

St Vincent’s Hospital is offering a $2000 travel voucher to explore Victoria “once restrictions are lifted” to doctors across Australia and New Zealand who are willing to join the fight against COVID-19.

On top of a salary, the hospital is paying for relocation flights and accommodation at a luxury hotel or apartments, along with any hotel and quarantine costs incurred when the doctors return home.

Under the recruitment drive, launched this week, doctors able to “spare a couple of months” are expected to work for the hospital, which has 17 sites across Melbourne, for at least six weeks.