Kia ora from West Coast Health!
You will have noticed lots of comings and goings over the last few months as we have been trying to expand our team to meet your health needs. We now have more doctors available: Dr Michael Becker will be work a few sessions each week on a long term basis and Dr Fiona Megahy has joined us all the way from Scotland, she will be with us for six months.
We have also been lucky to have Dr Susan Burslem and Dr Jess Blackwood with us, both of whom will be back in summer to cover extra sessions over the holiday period. Finally, our current GP registrar, Terry Hall, is due to leave in four weeks and will be replaced by Dr Madeleine Seton.
As far as our nursing staff go you may have noticed that Lisa has left; she is now working in Australia. Vicki Kelly has come back to cover this role: some of you may remember her as she has been here before. Claire Davies was back with us for a short time too, but she is now moving around the country to try out other nursing positions.
Another new member of the team is Andrea Gilshnan, whom again many of you may already know as a longstanding member of our community and a St John Ambulance volunteer and a member of the Raglan Volunteer Fire Brigade. She has taken up the role of Medical Centre Assistant (MCA) which is a new role for the clinic, Andrea will help to manage the flow of patients within the practice to enable the Nurses/Doctors more quality time to interact with patients. The role also covers admin/reception support so you will see her from time to time at the front counter.
Health Planning- don’t forget the silly season will be upon us soon so make sure you are up to date with your repeat prescriptions and any health checks you need.
We hope that you will enjoy meeting the new members of the team:
Andrea Gilshnan
For those who don’t know me I have been living in Raglan for 40 years and my passion is helping and supporting my community. I’m very excited about my new role at the clinic as I have been finally able to fulfil my life long dream of working within the health sector in Raglan. I can’t wait to meet all the patients and catch up with the patients I already know.
Dr Jess Blackwood
Kiaora tatou. Ko Ngati Tuwharetoa te iwi, Ko Jess Blackwood ahau. I joined the team at WCHC in January as a regular ‘reliever’ General Practitioner. I’ve been working as a doctor for 7 years, predominantly in Gisborne, Tairawhiti, and have also worked in youth health. I’m passionate about healthy communities, te reo Maori, te taiao, art, health education and child and youth health.
Dr Fiona Megahy
have come to Raglan for six months from the south east of Scotland. I have worked in general practice for many years in several practices and in sports medicine for around 10 years, primarily rugby. Back home I live on a farm and have beef cattle, a few sheep and a couple of horses. I have three university aged children who will all be joining me for Christmas in Raglan. I’m delighted at the opportunity to work in such a lovely rural town and I’m looking forward to my first kiwi summer.
Dr Michael Becker
I am a GP who has worked in the allergy arena for years at Medlab and in Australia, and have a special interest in food related allergies. I work every Friday at the Waikato Allergy Clinic in Hamilton, I also work a few days in a general practice in Otorohanga and I have now joined the West Coast Health Team where you will find me on a regular basis. As a resident of Otonga Valley I’m enjoying working closer to home.
