In his first year as Tairawhiti District Health’s GP Liaison, Dr Patrick McHugh has smoothed the way for five doctors to do their first-year GP training in Tairawhiti. 

It’s not a moment too soon as this district’s aging GP workforce grapples with a bulge of imminent GP retirements and a growing population.

Not helping is that while 35% of trained doctors in New Zealand are GPs, only around 15% of medical school graduates are choosing to move into the profession.

Patrick is blunt; crunch time is near.

“There is a crisis looming and if the District Health Board didn’t get involved, didn’t make it easier to train, then less people would stay and the district would suffer.”

Patrick has spent the past 12 months working with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, TDH and local GPs like Dave Somerton, Johan Peters, Pauline Smale and the late Pat Ngata, to bring the first year of GP training to Tairawhiti.

Patrick has a long history in health in Gisborne starting out as a house surgeon at Gisborne hospital in 1987. He was a GP locum in Gisborne and Te Puia, and then started his own general practice in Mangapapa. In 1998 he returned to Gisborne Hospital as Emergency Department Medical Director.
 
Students take part in 36 seminars a year. They have everything from their consulting, listening, and counselling skills tested, and take part in workshops and mock consultations. It’s complex and vigorous, considerably more so if students must travel out of town to attend.

Before Ngati Porou Hauora GP Pat Ngata passed away, he worked on the project with Patrick. Other local GPs have also climbed on board. Turanganui PHO-affiliated GPs Tom James, Dave Somerton and Pauline Smale have renewed their credentials to be GP teachers. Ngati Porou Hauora GP David Belfield has done the same. The five GP Registrars are: Anna Harris, Nadja Gottfert, Craig Wilson, Tae Richardson and Bryn Jones. They will have two placements over five-or-so months at practices including Kaiti Medical Centre, Desmond Road Medical Centre, and at Ngati Porou Hauora clinics.

“We are very lucky having sufficient numbers of highly skilled GPs in the community.”

Patrick has previously worked in the primary and secondary health sectors, and started as TDH GP Liaison in February 2008, a role he works three days a week. The aim of the position is to ensure that where the primary and secondary sectors dovetail; the best outcome for patients is foremost.

“I didn’t have any predetermined expectations but I was aware that there are areas that can be improved. Often it comes down to a misunderstanding between the sectors about “intent”. His aim is to improve the communication.

This year Patrick will work with the sector on general practice after-hours issues, sexual abuse assessment and treatment services, and expanding the local GP training programme. He will continue with his formal (and sometimes funny!) newsletter for GPs. 

Patrick shares the rest of his time between working shifts at Gisborne Hospital’s Emergency Department, and gaining his own vocational registration in general practice. 

Patrick has a long history in health in Gisborne starting out as a house surgeon at Gisborne hospital in 1987. He was a GP locum in Gisborne and Te Puia, and then started his own general practice in Mangapapa. In 1998 he returned to Gisborne Hospital as Emergency Department Medical Director.

If new Turanga Health nurse Bernie Biddle is perfectly honest, then yes, some of the patients he has nursed have been surprised when they meet him! 

“I think being male, Maori, and my size...yes....that’s it....I would walk into the ward and some patients would get a bit of a fright!”

Bernie graduated with a bachelor of nursing in 2008, and recently completed a post graduate year in Gisborne Hospital’s orthopaedics ward. Now Turanga Health has been lucky enough to secure his nursing services with its Whanau Hauora, or family health, service.

“It’s good to be able to reach the people that need us most. The people who don’t necessarily go to the doctor, often Maori, and sometimes not taking care of themselves,” says Bernie.

Bernie will be familiar to many in the Tairawhiti health sector, having worked at Supporting Families Tairawhiti (mental illness), Ranworth Healthcare (brain injury) and at a former Turanga Health residential home as a key worker.

“I’ve always enjoyed primary health care and community work. Being hands-on and out in the community is what I have always done.”

Bernie, who is Ngati Kahungugnu Pahauwera descent, says he spent a year at Gisborne Hospital to shore up his clinical skills and is now pleased to be working in the community. He and fellow Whanau Hauora nurse Kaye Fairlie manage rural health clinics, visit participants at the Kaumatua Programme, and make home visits to clients. They are supported by kaiawhina Carryn Smith and Dallas Poi.

“You can visit whanau in the home, it’s relaxed, they are relaxed, and there is a chance to build up a good rapport and encourage good habits.”

When not at work, Bernie spends time with his partner and 10-year-old daughter. He is a keen runner, and has this year taken up the paddle for the Hourouta waka ama team.