The Doctors Richmond

I am an experienced general practitioner and Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners who is delighted to have moved to the friendly and welcoming Tasman district in 2023.After qualifying at Otago University in 1990, training at Christchurch Hospital and working in several GP practices in Christchurch, I then travelled and worked in Waterford, Ireland. I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to patients and great colleagues who have contributed to ‘a degree of a lifetime”. My clinical interests include family medicine, natural fertility care and education, paediatrics, crisis counselling and lifestyle environmental medicine. In taking a holistic approach to care, I have been happy to support patients when they prefer to explore  natural medicine options .I have developed a consulting style which aims to listen carefully, and enjoy  those times when we find that touch of humour to brighten the health journey. I am married with two well grown children, and my personal interests include arts and music, gardening and home craft upcycling projects.

I grew up in Cape Town South Africa and studied at UCT (University of Cape Town) graduating in 2002. After qualifying I spent a year in Anaesthetics and have a diploma in that discipline. However, I decided I preferred the relational side of medicine and went on to work at a district level hospital in KwazuluNatal for many years.  I completed my Masters in Family Medicine while working there, spending time in different departments. I then went on to work in Primary Health Care. I enjoy the variety of my days in general practice as no two patients, and therefore no two days are the same!  My family relocated to Nelson New Zealand mid 2022 and we are enjoying life here. I am married and have 3 children. In my spare time I am transporting and feeding them all! I enjoy food, sunshine and the outdoors as well as a good book!

I was born and grew up in the Netherlands, becoming a GP in 1989. I was motivated to do nonprofit work, and worked the next 18 years in The Hague in a health centre where the patients came from more than 30 countries; mostly refugees and immigrants.

My wife and I moved to NZ in 2009 after a year in Western Australia where I worked as a roving locum GP. We then lived near Kaitaia, Northland where I completed my NZ Fellowship in General Practice in 2013, while working there as a GP. We moved to Richmond in 2018 because we love the incredible natural beauty of the area,- the snow peaked mountains and the sea,- and appreciate the wide variety of social and cultural opportunities.

I enjoy the variety of people I meet working here as a GP, seeing every age group. One of my interests is mindfulness,- how to use this to deepen my experience of life, and my work as a GP. In my free time I enjoy fitness training at the gym, swimming and hiking. We participate in the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum: working to help our region move towards a sustainable future.

I grew up in Christchurch, where I finished my Otago training. After an OE in Britain, my husband and I settled in Lyttelton, where I spent time practicing hospital medicine, before buying a Practice in Motueka. I have worked in Richmond for over 10 years now, and value the relationships I have established here, as well as the ever-changing nature of General Practice. I have also taught General Practice at all levels, and have kept up my thirst for knowledge by a studying a variety of things from Acupuncture, to Neurolinguistics, Masters papers including Cardiology, Ethics, and advanced teaching and learning techniques, and more recently Bio and Neurofeedback. I have a keen interest in mind body medicine and enjoy the opportunity to incorporate this into patient care.

I completed my medical training at the University of Otago. I then worked in Christchurch public hospital in a number of areas of medicine.
Following this I moved into general practice. I completed GP specialty training while living and working in Hawkes Bay. Family roots have prompted our return to the Nelson region and we are excited for our next chapter commencing here. I enjoy all areas of general practice, the variety it brings on a daily basis and working with my local community. Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my young family and all things sport.

After completing my medical degree at Guys hospital in London, I worked in Christchurch in the late 1980s and subsequently have almost 20 years of general practice experience, both in the UK and in Tasman (having moved to this area 10 years ago.)

I have an ongoing enthusiasm for General Pracitice and when not working keep busy trying to keep up with my daughters and springer spaniel dog!

I came to medicine late in life (30) having previously worked in many fields including building, marine conservation, deep sea fisheries, forestry. I completed my training in 1999 and worked for 5 years in hospital medicine (emergency and psychiatry). I completed my Fellowship in General Practice in 2010 and have been permanently at Richmond Health since 2009. I love all aspects of general practice but have special interests in minor surgery, men’s health and mental health. I’m married with two children and enjoy several outdoor activities (kitesurfing, mountain biking, fishing, hunting).

After finishing my training at Otago medical school I went on to do general practice training in Southland. This included training in rural GP service which is an interest of mine. I then practiced for several years in Lumsden and Queenstown before moving with my family to the Nelson region. I enjoy the wide variety of experiences that General Practice provides.