Member Spotlight: Mary Ross

Tell us about yourself and why you decided to become a Member of the Network.

My career, which has encompassed both secondary and primary health care based and living in a rural environment, has been underpinned by being a farmer’s wife, cropping, mother, and farming partner on a mixed cropping, sheep and cattle farm which in 2010 converted to dairying and dairy support. My public sector career has included being a Director of Nursing for the Ashburton & Rural Health Services, which was at the time a division of the former Canterbury District Health Board. This role included professional responsibility for the not only Ashburton Hospital & local community nursing services, but also six small rural hospitals within Canterbury.   I am also Chair of the Steering Committee of the Rural Health Academic Centre, Ashburton (RHACA) which is a collaboration between Otago University , the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation. I have a Masters in Health Science (Otago), endorsed in nursing.

I am currently a director, and formerly Chair, of Eastfield Health, Ashburton. In this role I have hands-on responsibility for recruitment of General Practitioners. Eastfield Health has about 6,500 enrolled patients and is based in the peri-rural environment of Ashburton.

Why did I become a member of Hauora Taiwhenua? Because rural health is sooo important not only to individuals and their whanau, but also New Zealand as a country. Rural populations may be smaller than historically, but the work involved in agriculture is hard, with long hours and unprecedented regulatory and environmental demands. The collective nature of Hauora Taiwhenua with all parties involved in rural healthcare is very important for the sector to speak with one voice, and to be heard and supported.

What are some of the key challenges or opportunities you’re seeing in rural health right now, and how are you addressing them?

The challenges are unfortunately not unique to Eastfield Health. Recruitment of health professionals is the major. While government funding has improved, the reality is that there are not the people around with the appropriate training and skills, nor desire to practice in the peaceful and genuine environments of rural New Zealand. Along with recruitment, the two other challenges are the increasingly ethnically diverse and aging demographic of patients in rural communities,  and the growing number of patients with complex needs not being easily catered for by telemedicine. 

Eastfield Health is facing and addressing these challenges with quiet fortitude, constant focus, pursuing every opportunity, thinking as laterally as possible while endeavoring to provide the best possible focus on our enrolled patients and whanau.  We would love to remedy the challenges but don’t have any easy, immediate answers on how to do such.

Is there a particular project, initiative, or success story you’d like to share that others in the sector might find inspiring or useful?

The University of Otago Rural Health Centre, Ashburton is growing well and doing good things for rural healthcare. Check it out!  Rural Health Academic Centre, Ashburton (RHACA) | University of Otago

What would you like other members or readers to know about —whether it’s a piece of advice, something unexpected about your work, or how they can connect with you?

One which I remind myself about, is that good things take time and often happen in small steps. Like the story of the tortoise and hare. Being part of a rural community is unique, being involved in the care of rural communities is a privilege. Take a moment to reflect and enjoy…