Dr John Russell trials retirement
This Christmas, I am leaving general practice on the North Shore for at least six months. This is the first full summer I will have to enjoy, without work, since the age of 15. At the end of six months, I will decide if I enjoy retirement, or if I would like to do some locum work.
The North Shore is where I was born and grew up. I am the fourth generation of our family to live on the North Shore. I attended Browns Bay Primary, Murrays Bay Intermediate and Westlake Boys High before going to the US for a year, and returning to attend the Universities of Auckland and Otago. Next year it will be 50 years since I started at Otago Medical School.
I have been a general practitioner on the North Shore for 42 years. During that I have delivered more than 2000 babies and performed more than 6500 vasectomies. My practice has changed from young families and mostly women, to older people and more men.
Over the years, there were wonderful times and sad times. You have let me into your lives and health needs. It has been an absolute privilege to be involved.
We have a team of really good staff at The Doctors Fred Thomas who are ready to continue to care for your health needs. Dr Lia uit de Bosch is taking over the care of my patients. We also have two other young doctors, Dr Miriam Jobson and Dr Adam Perley, and of course the more senior staff who are also available to help.
I will miss you all but the time has come for me to move on with my life. To spend more time with my wife Anne and our family, including four grandsons. I have many interests and aspirations to accomplish outside medicine. Time is short to complete these.
Thank you once again for being part of my life and our medical practice throughout the past 42 years.
Regards, John R
Dr John M. W. Russell
New Practice Nurse - Iris Shi
The best practice techniques adopted at The Doctors Fred Thomas motivates an aspirational member of the clinical team to excel in her role.
Practice nurse, Iris Shi joined The Doctors in June 2018 and she says the consistent use of proven clinical techniques ensures all patients receive high standards of care, all the time.
“The nursing team works with highly qualified and experienced doctors, and we are all supported to do what we are best at,” says Iris.
Her role includes immunising patients for general population health as well as administering vaccines to people travelling to international destinations where there are health risks.
Iris and the charge nurse carryout smear tests for cervical health, which takes the pressure off busy doctors and it is slightly cheaper to see a nurse for this routine procedure.
The nursing team can also change dressings and use liquid nitrogen to treat small skin lesions and growths, such as warts.
In fact, Iris’s day can include anything from ear syringing to remove wax, to carrying out electrocardiography (ECG) to monitor the electrical activity of a patient’s heart.
“A great day is when I see a patient for one routine procedure, such as a smear test.
“They are generally healthy and we may seldom see them, so this is an opportunity to check other health indicators, including blood pressure, stress levels and weight.”
It is like a mini check-up and if a health concern arises, Iris refers patients to their doctor and their improved well-being is a positive outcome that she feels good about initiating.
Iris developed her varied professional skillset throughout four years of practice nurse experience at a Remuera medical centre and prior to that, she was a nurse at a rest home hospital.
She studied nursing at The University of Auckland and has undertaken professional development throughout her career.
Recently Iris got married and the couple bought their first home, located on the North Shore.
Her free time is spent renovating and enjoying simple activities, like watching movies or walking so they can save money for further décor improvements.