The Mobile Surgical Unit – Te Waka Hauora went back to its roots when it visited Te Puia Springs on Monday 11 March to have an open day after a six-year hiatus. It was a great success with plenty of visitors and interest through the mobile unit. We held a suturing demonstration where local school students with an interest in medicine donned scrubs and had a go themselves! Following the event, we had two surgery days in Te Puia and treated 16 patients.
Mobile Surgical has a profound relationship with the area because the first surgery on the surgical unit was in Te Puia Springs in March 2002. Almost 24 years later there has been more than 1,000 patients treated at Te Puia in a range of specialities, including dental, general surgery, gynaecology and endoscopy.
Strong community partnerships are the key to the success – thank you to Ngati Porou for their valuable support and collaboration in co-ordinating this event for the local area.
Top photo: Locals from Te Puia look on to a demonstration by the clinical team.
Pictured left middle: Mobile Surgical clinical team L-R) Liz Grant, Karenza Heath, Vicky Copland, Carla Hibbs, Keeley Lawson, Tim McKay, Uwe Seidenfaden, Jayne Attkins, Kasha Laverick, and the amazing support team from Gisborne and Te Puia who provided support to the children and families who came for their dental treatment.
Pictured left botton: Mobile Surgical clinical team (L-R top row) Tim Mckay, Vicky Copland, Karenza Heath, Keeley Lawson, Kasha Laverick, Liz Grant. (L-R bottom row) Jayne Attkins, Carla Hibbs, Jason Irwin, and Uwe Seidenfaden.