Welcome to Dr Claire Isham, Clinical Director, WBOP PHO After 11 years working as a GP for Ngati Kahu Hauora in Bethlehem, Dr Claire Isham has joined the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation as its new Clinical Director. It is a new role that will see her develop new programmes to support general practice in the PHO, ensure existing programmes are meeting the needs of general practice and the local population, and promote clinical governance to make sure the work of the PHO is fit for purpose. She will also be involved in GP education, supporting the PHO’s Health and Wellness Services, and be the PHO’s GP liaison with Tauranga Hospital. “It will be nice to have a new challenge. The team at the PHO are all very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and I know it’s going to be fun to be a part of.” Claire grew up on the island of Jersey in the United Kingdom and travelled to New Zealand after completing her medical training. She met and married a Kiwi and has lived in New Zealand for the past 15 years. She is a mother of three children and as well as juggling her GP clinics, including a weekly clinic at Te Wharekura o Mauao as part of the PHO’s School Health Services and a monthly clinic at Motiti Island, she has been a GP educator for the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners for the past five years. Working at Ngati Kahu Hauora has seen Claire work with some very high needs patients, and she has particularly enjoyed delivering healthcare into the communities where it is needed. “The people of Motiti Island are actually quite a healthy bunch, but the purpose of these clinics is to make sure that people in remote areas get access to good quality healthcare.” Claire says the Maori model of health she has worked under at Ngati Kahu Hauora “suits my personality” and being welcomed into the community there has been “a real privilege”. “I like the fact that you try to make the most of all your moments with patients. It’s very opportunistic and building on the relationship and connection you have with people. You have to think about things in a different way to get the outcomes you want. I find that challenging and very fulfilling.”
Claire says one of the issues currently facing GPS is the push to provide healthcare that has traditionally been provided in the secondary sector. “Secondary care is stretched so there is a big push for more healthcare to be provided by primary care. As new treatments come along that are accessible to primary care there is an expectation that it should be done there. That puts pressure on GPs, who are already working at capacity. “There is also a change in focus for patients who are used to accessing care in the secondary sector and have to get used to new processes.” GPs also have to grapple with new technology and ensure they are not being left behind, says Claire. “As new technologies come along, we have to try to keep up with them and make it work for us and our patients. We need to ensure the technologies are robust and safe.”