\u201cI was in a service delivery manager role and I saw the opportunity to move into health,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve long-standing relationships with health leaders here [and] I was interested to come across into health, but remain focused on improving outcomes for wh\u0101nau and families in our Tair\u0101whiti region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barrington acknowledged the challenges health services faced, but was excited about what was happening.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a remote and small health district we experience many of the challenges that come from that level of remoteness and diversity … we continue to evolve the changes in health. There\u2019s a lot of momentum. It\u2019s a really exciting time to be in health.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at the data and the demographics \u2013 there are real challenges ahead of us if we think about an ageing population and the needs that they will have. However, it is very dynamic right now. There\u2019s a lot to be excited about.\u201d <\/p>\n
Barrington said Gisborne Hospital had a lot to offer career-wise and progress was being made in filling the gaps.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really seeking to encourage New Zealand residents, New Zealand-trained health professionals and those outside of Tair\u0101whiti to come and join us here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being part of a workforce that was invested in its community had attracted \u201csome really impressive applicants to roles here … as well as bringing people back to Tair\u0101whiti in the last year or two as they see those opportunities aren\u2019t so evident in other communities\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout 18 months ago, we found ourselves with many gaps in key clinical services. It\u2019s really heartening that we\u2019ve made huge headway on that. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve worked to bring about an international campaign, we\u2019ve strengthened our recruitment approach when people interface with us and we\u2019ve really thought about what applicants are looking for when they want to join a community and let them really understand what they can bring and what it would look like if they were delivering care here. And that\u2019s paid off.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater this year, we will have the lowest vacancies we\u2019ve seen in a long time in Tair\u0101whiti across those specialist workforces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve managed to secure some key people in roles. Things like ophthalmology<\/a> … a specialism that\u2019s often hard to recruit. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got other key roles coming later in the year. A cardiologist has started with us this month … having secured another cardiologist to join our team is a really good news story.\u201d<\/p>\n Weather events had had an impact but Barrington said she and her leadership team had strong connections with the district council, emergency management and emergency services to \u201censure we lead collectively through these events\u201d.<\/p>\n