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It’s the best of A Few Words for 2021
It’s the best of A Few Words for 2021
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This article was first published in the 15 December Summer edition
In every issue of New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa, we convince a member of the general practice team to provide us with A Few Words abut their world – loves, loathes and everything in between. Here’s a selection of responses from throughout the year
- My funniest moment from my hospital days was in Australia, where I once went to work as a locum at the wrong hospital. I was cauterising a patient with epistaxis in the emergency department when the correct hospital rang to find out where I was. Geraldine Wilson
- Without a doubt my funniest moment as a GP was when I met fellow GP Ken Young. He’s a massively strong Scotsman. When he turned up at my practice 20 years ago, I said “Ken, I need to move that cabinet over there.” Before I could say anything else he bellowed at me, “I’ll do it!” He tried lifting it, he was huffing and puffing and going all red and I yelled, “Ken, it’s screwed to the floor!” Dave Baldwin
- My funniest moments as an academic: sadly, it’s not funny there very often. As a strong extrovert I think I am a misfit in academia! Jenny Carryer
- As a GP registrar I was performing a home visit on a river boat, harboured by the Thames in west London. The patient’s cat suddenly erupted in a fit of hisses and leaps, trying to catch what looked like a rat. So, my funniest moment was when, to my patient’s delight, I managed to capture the large, furry creature by prising it away from the ginger tom unharmed. I released it outside only to then realise it was a water vole – an endangered species endemic to the area. Reza Jarral
- I think general practice, unfortunately, is dying from the sad imbalance between expectations and funding. While it was a great thing to be doing in my parents’ day, it can no longer attract many of the smart young ones. Really dispiriting for those who would really like to do it and do it well, but just can’t achieve the lifestyle they deserve as New Zealand GPs. Peter Boot
- Better models of care, developed and led by Māori; time being made available for clinic teams to have a say in planning and quality improvement activities; and technology, hard and software, that works all day, every day without fail. Matire Harwood
- In the 2018 Census, 28 per cent of Aucklanders identify as Asian, yet this group barely features in the medical education curriculum, so I would like to see the cultural competence in the RNZCGP’s CPD programme recognise the Asian population. Linda Lum
- Three things I would like to see changed in nursing are the need to constantly remind decision-makers that they need nurses around the table; a greater recognition of the huge, as-yet-untapped potential in nursing; and I am always greatly troubled by reports of bullying. It seems so antithetical to who we are. Jenny Carryer
- Three things I’d like to see changed about general practice are: true interoperability of our software systems; improved access, particularly for high-needs groups; and better funding throughout. Reza Jarral
- The three things I’d like to see changed about general practice are: a service that truly reflects the needs of the patients and produces equitable outcomes; recognition and remuneration of general practice as a specialty, with appropriate funding, professional development and career progression; a national IT system that works. Chris Fawcett
- People with bigger brains than mine are dealing with the many changes needed in general practice but, off the top of my head, the three things I would like to see changed are: DHBs removed from the equation – they don’t know enough about our community, it’s not all statistics; better records-sharing; and better integration of associated services. Kiwa Raureti
- Three things I would like to see changed about general practice are: I’d like it to be supported by artificial intelligence to reduce the paperwork, I’d like it to be free of charge for everyone and I’d like to have more time to spend per patient. Wim Ruelens
- Three things I would like to see changed about general practice are changes to the funding structure to allow more flexibility in how we see our patients; making general practice the specialty training scheme of choice for junior doctors; and expanding the general practice team to include a wider variety of roles, so that GPs can focus on seeing patients and spend less time doing paperwork. Dayna More
Specialist GP Sobia Imran, Auckland; specialist GP Peter Boot, Auckland; specialist GP Richard McCubbin, Waikari; specialist GP Dave Baldwin, Bulls; midwife Violet Clapham, Christchurch; GP Matire Harwood (Ngāpuhi), Auckland; specialist GP Linda Lum, Auckland; nursing professor Jenny Carryer, Palmerston North; registered paramedic Carlton Irving (Te Whakatōhea), Dunedin; nurse practitioner Kate Stark, Roxburgh; specialist GP Reza Jarral, Auckland; specialist GP Chris Fawcett, Kāpiti; specialist GP Wim Ruelens, Gisborne; Mobile Health boss Mark Eager, Christchurch; chief executive Kiwa Raureti (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Rangitihi), Ōtaki; specialist GP Amar Saasan, Picton; specialist GP Munanga Mwandila, Christchurch; specialist GP Geraldine Wilson, Christchurch; specialist GP Dayna More, Invercargill; chief executive Nicky Hart, Feilding; and practice nurse Tyla Sorensen, Auckland.
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