Our Doctors at Nelson Family Medicine

Dr Adam Patrick – MB BS PGradDip Fam. Med Occ. Med Ger. Med

I’m of English-Malay-Straits Chinese descent, born and educated in Singapore. I achieved my medical degree in 2001. My professional journey includes public and private healthcare establishments to the frontlines of disasters, including Indian Ocean Tsunami, Haiti Earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda. I’ve tutored medical students since 2008 and worked in Aotearoa for over 5 years. I’m an accredited family physician and workplace doctor and have postgraduate diplomas in family, occupational and geriatric medicine. When off-work I like to pursue quality time with my family.

Dr Janneke Patterson – MB BS FRNZCGP.

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 three children which keeps me on the go and on my toes. I enjoy running, biking and generally being active.

Dr Esmee van Rijn – BSc MSc.

Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients.
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 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 Leigh Halkett- MBCHB

Sorry I am unable to take on any new patients. 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 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 at Nelson Family Medicine

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.

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.

Rachel

Tēnā koutou. I grew up and completed my nursing training in the Nelson region. I have spent the last eight years in Emergency nursing with a prior background in prehospital care and flight nursing.
Although practice nursing is a new area to me, I’m looking forward to extending my skills and to be part of NFM team. I have two young children and enjoy spending time with my whānau and the outdoors.

Dee

Nursing and travelling have been my life since 2008. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked in a variety of areas including labour & delivery, rural health, emergency, and general practice before coming to beautiful Nelson.
I have a special place in my heart for women’s health, and hope to continue professional development in this field. Outside of work I enjoy tramping, yoga, reading, and learning about the world in general.

Health Care Assistant at Nelson Family Medicine

Jane

I grew up in Nelson and have spent the last 10 years in Practice Management in Health Care Sectors. The Health Care Assistant Role is new to me and I am excited to learn all aspects of the job. I have 2 adult children and enjoy running, mountain biking, snow skiing and spending time with my family.