Health NZ Lakes District interim operations group director Kathy Rex in April said Lakes mental health had had full medical cover since late last year, supported by a mix of permanent, fixed-term and locum doctors.<\/p>\n
A permanent, full-time overseas-trained doctor joined the service on April 7. The vacant specialist positions were filled by two doctors and four locum psychiatrists, Rex said.<\/p>\n
They staff were supported by a recently employed primary liaison nurse specialist, she said.<\/p>\n
The agency\u2019s child and adolescent mental health team, paediatrics and child development team were now jointly triaging patients every two weeks to \u201creduce duplicate effort and fast-track acceptance by the right service\u201d.<\/p>\n
From Johannesburg to Rotorua <\/p>\n
Dr Carmel Govender, a new adult psychiatrist in the Lakes district\u2019s acute response team, began on April 7.<\/p>\n
In a statement provided by Health NZ, Govender said she trained in Johannesburg and was a consultant psychiatrist for 10 years in the public and private sectors before taking up this role.<\/p>\n
She had worked across the spectrum in the community, hospitals, medical and mental health wards, caring for children, older people and adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love helping people and seeing improvements when they get better, especially in mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see the effects on the person, their wh\u0101nau and community when they\u2019re ill. When they\u2019re better, you see what a great impact it has for the person and their wh\u0101nau. It\u2019s heart-warming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Govender had visited Rotorua before as a tourist and enjoyed the \u201csmall town, homely feel\u201d.<\/p>\n
Her husband, physician Deanish Govender, was also able to get a job at Rotorua Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had heard very positive things about New Zealand. I was keen to explore how mental health care works here, broaden my horizons and go on an adventure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also really wanted to explore the opportunities for our children, like university and job opportunities, and for them to live a safe and carefree life. They can ride their bikes on the street here without fear for their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Carmel Govender is a psychiatrist in the Lakes district\u2019s acute response team.<\/p>\n
Govender said she loved that there was no traffic in Rotorua compared with Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, if I want to go anywhere, it\u2019s a 10-minute drive. It\u2019s very convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Govender\u2019s interests were in acute mental health and pregnant women with mental distress.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy working with pregnant women because women are very vulnerable at this time. You see a mother and a child as a unit and want to work in their best interests to protect them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Govender said South Africa\u2019s system was different. In her view, New Zealand\u2019s Mental Health Act was \u201cless restrictive, with a human rights approach\u201d.<\/p>\n
She also appreciated doing home visits, which she could not do in South Africa. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has welcomed me and been so gracious and heart-warming. They are willing to guide me on health care processes, which are very different here. I like Rotorua and I\u2019m excited about our future.\u201d<\/p>\n