Doctors at Nelson Family Medicine
Dr Esmee van Rijn – BSc MSc.
I grew up in The Netherlands where I finished my medical training at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2016.
After working at the Gastroenterology and Emergency Department back home, I completed my GP training and decided to move to beautiful New Zealand. I spent a year in Mount Maunganui before I moved to Nelson.
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, biking and growing my own vegetables.
Dr Leigh Halkett
After growing up in sunny Nelson I did my medical training through Otago University in Dunedin and Wellington. I worked in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Nelson Hospitals and General Practice in Queenstown before having a hiatus from the medical world. I spent this time working in adventure tourism and traveling. Nelson called me home and I returned to working in the hospital before starting my GP training. I’m now working towards my GP fellowship and am really enjoying the variety that General Practice offers. Outside of work I enjoy running, mountain biking, and pretty much anything that keeps me active and gets me into the great outdoors!
Dr Ryo Eguchi – BSc MB ChB.
Hi! I’m Ryotaro but you can call me Ryo (like Rio). I was born in Fukuoka, Japan and moved to New Zealand back in 2001. I spent most of the first 10 years in NZ in Dunedin, where I graduated from Otago University. I worked at various hospitals but mainly in Rotorua, Whanganui, and Blenheim; and decided to move to Nelson with my partner this year to pursue my GP career which I love. Outside of work, I enjoy fishing (let me know if you know any good land-based fishing points), relaxing at cafés and learning about Web 3.0.
Dr Lizzie Thomas – MB ChB PGDipObstMedGyn MRNZCGP.
Dr Janneke Patterson – MB BS FRNZCGP.
Janneke is currently away on maternity leave. I grew up in rural Devon and did my medical training in the Southwest of England. I worked for a few years in the UK and then a variety of hospital jobs in New Zealand before seeing the light and completing my GP training in 2015.
I love General Practice, as many others do, for the variety it brings on a daily basis and I find it a very rewarding job. I live with my husband and young daughter who keeps me on my toes. I enjoy running, biking and generally being active.
Dr Allie Fox – MBChB, DCH, FRNZCGP.
Allie is currently away on maternity leave. Originally from Christchurch I completed my degree through University of Otago. I then worked in Nelson, Blenheim and Wellington to complete my GP training before returning to Nelson. I enjoy the variety General Practice brings and the doctor-patient relationships that develop over time. I have completed a postgraduate diploma in Child Health but I enjoy seeing people of all ages and with all health needs.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and the outdoors.
Dr Andy Dawson – MB ChB, FRNZCGP, PGCert TravMed.
Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients. I grew up in Scotland and graduated from Aberdeen University in 1989. I trained in General Practice in the West Coast of Scotland and worked there as a rural GP, and in Africa prior to moving to New Zealand in 1993. I worked in Hamilton and Queenstown before settling in Nelson in 1996. I enjoy the variety that General Practice offers, and have additional experience in Travel Medicine and Occupational health.
I’m married to Fox and we have two daughters. Our family live on a lifestyle block where we keep Highland cattle. When I’m not busy looking after things there, I enjoy tramping, skiing and the outdoors.
Dr Rachel Davidson – BSc, MB ChB, DCH, FRNZCGP.
Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients. I grew up in Auckland and graduated from Otago Medical School in 2003. I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Health. I moved to Nelson in 2005 and am now the proud mother of one young daughter. I am a keen mountain biker and enjoy all outdoor activities.
Dr Ed Johnson – MB ChB(Hons), B.Sc(Clin Med), MA, MRCP, MRNZCGP.
Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients. I was born in England and did my medical study in Glasgow Scotland, graduating in 2008. Having spent four years working in various UK hospitals I then moved with my young family to Gibraltar for a couple of years before taking the leap over to NZ in 2014. I started my GP fellowship training in Nelson in 2016.
I enjoy most sports and have loved getting back into football recently, and when not outside exploring in nature I will be training in the gym or playing with my two young boys.
Dr Dorren Kirkaldy – MB ChB, FRNZCGP, Dip Obs.
Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients. I graduated from Dundee University Medical School in 1986 and completed my General Practice training in Scotland. After working in rural and remote areas of Australia I moved to New Zealand in 1994 and have been in Nelson since 2002. I love General Practice and the wide range of challenges that it brings. My areas of interest are women’s health and child health. I have completed the Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand Colleges and hold a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
I have 2 children and my partner Mike works as an ENT Surgeon in Nelson. As a family we enjoy skiing, water-sports and lots of outdoor activities.
Our nurses
Jacqui – Nurse Lead
I grew up in Auckland. After working in Surgical Ward and Intensive Care I moved to Queenstown to work as a Ski Area Nurse before settling back in Nelson.
I am interested in all aspects of family medicine and in particular Travel Medicine, Women’s Health and Sexual Health.
Denise
My years of nursing in general practice have flown by. I have taken on specific roles in refugee health and venesection in addition to all the usual practice nurse roles.
I’m also a mother of three children, and enjoy keeping up with them, as well as tramping, skiing, playing my fiddle, and a newfound interest in sailing.
Anna
I have been nursing since 2003. I trained in Nelson and worked in Nelson Public Hospital, before moving to Christchurch for 8 years. My nursing background includes Medical, Geriatric and Plunket nursing. I really enjoy Primary Health Care especially working with children, women and families.
I have four children of my own and enjoy the outdoors, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Bridget
Kia Ora I have over 18 years’ experience in primary health care as a practice, urgent care and hyperbaric nurse. I enjoy working in primary care and I am passionate about the diversity of the role and working alongside clients, community and other health professionals. I am on the NZ College of Primary Health Care Nurses committee and recently joined an advisory group with Pharmac. In my spare time I enjoy paddleboarding, learning the bass guitar and spending time with family and friends.
Teresa
I grew up in the South of England and moved to NZ in 2017. I gained my diploma in nursing in 1983 after training with the Queen Alexanders Royal Naval Nursing Service, which was wonderful. Since qualifying I have nursed in many different disciplines but particularly enjoyed 6 years as a Community Staff nurse in the Yorkshire Dales.
I have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren and they keep me busy. I love swimming, piano, flower arranging, writing and hope to publish one day.
Ali
I have returned to practice nursing after many years, and am loving it.
My training was done in South Africa, and I nursed there, Australia and NZ in many different fields, as there is always something more to learn.
I have lived in NZ for 30 years after meeting my (Kiwi) husband in Scotland! We live rurally, and I think we were too ambitious with the veggie garden.
Becky
My nursing background is in Palliative and Acute Medical nursing.
I am very excited to be part of the NFM team and working with our community.
My interests include walking, yoga, planting trees, growing food and swimming in the ocean year-round.
Our receptionists
Julie-Ann
Nikki
Amy
Jax
Gina
Islay
Our managers
Nicky
Karenne