Heather’s moving on

After 27 years with Kawhia Health Centre practice manager Heather Sherman is moving on, literally, in her (stunningly beautiful!) campervan with (equally stunning!) dog Jaxon by her side.

Heather's had a dual role in the community, having also spent 25 years at the school as their administrator. It's a relationship that has brought great value to the practice, the school and the community as health and education often entwine.

"Parents might pop by in the morning asking if I can arrange an after school appointment for one of the kids, or seeing if I can fish out their immunisation record or even just mention to hold aside something from the pharmacy till they can pop in a bit later," explains Heather.

Heather has been a Kawhia local for about 40 years. Previously of Hamilton, Heather and her late husband Lou "just felt like a change". Being new in town, Heather worked a range of jobs including housekeeping for the local GP of the time, Dr Denver Calder. Clearly, they hit it off as her work with him evolved to working in his practice.

"Back then compliance and rules were different, and Dr Calder decided to train me up as his nurse, teaching me how to give injections," Heather smiles. "You wouldn't get it these days, but it was quite usual back then!"

Following her first stint in general practice with Dr Calder, Heather then managed the local fish and chip shop for ten years. During this time Dr John Burton came to town, and he asked her if she would do some part-time reception work for him, initially just on Fridays. After a while the fish and chip shop sold to new owners. Heather took on the school administrator role and her involvement with the practice continued to grow.

In 2002 Dr Burton and his wife Sue spent some time in Australia and asked Heather to take on management of the practice. This worked out very well for everyone, and she continued to manage the practice on his return, allowing him to focus on being a GP.

Heather has only good words to say about John, Sue and the work they do for their community.

"John is an amazing man, and I've been so lucky to be employed by him. I couldn't sleep the night before telling him I'd decided to retire. But he knew it would be coming and has been lovely and supportive."

"When I lost my husband the practice team were key in helping me to get through. Their love and support, even the routine of my work all helped. Things like it being payroll day kept me ticking along bit by bit as I made the huge adjustment."

Heather is the type of lady to take change in all her stride, having worked in general practice from paper notes through to computerised systems, ever increasing compliance and even a national lockdown.

"I was lucky during lockdown, being able to carry out both my roles from home. I set up two office workspaces. I had my mornings downstairs 'at school' and then went upstairs to be 'in the practice' for the afternoon. My dog Jaxon enjoyed it too and promptly alerted me at 4.45pm each day when it was time for a walk," Heather laughs.

"I guess that experience of being home with Jaxon more, along with shorter Winter days and a significant birthday on the horizon is what prompted my decision to retire from the practice. The thought of being able to walk my dog in the daylight is really appealing. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with the afternoons other than that!"

A special - surprise - message for Heather from Sue Burton on behalf of her, John and the practice team...

We just want to express what an absolute asset Heather is to our Health Centre team - she's like gold!

John used to joke that when Heather left he'd be hanging up his stethoscope, so key she seems to be to the running of the practice. But with all that's happening, and in the pipeline hopefully, he's not about to do that, and we'll have to learn to manage without her! She's busy training up our chosen replacement, Linda, who knows she has VERY big shoes to fill, poor woman.

It seems to me that whatever Heather does, she gives it her all, and then some. She's so thorough and very protective of any income the practice generates; she'd call it her Scottish ancestry but Fiona Bolden, who was our locum here when we were in Australia in 2002, called her 'the terrier'!

Heather is extremely well organised, leaving nothing to chance, and getting on to tasks in good time. I don't think the word 'procrastination' exists in Heather's vocabulary.

Our assessor for our last Foundation Standards referred to the work Heather did for us, and uploaded prior to the assessment, as 'superb'. That's Heather. You can see why we wonder how we'll do without her.

She keeps us all on task...practice meetings, First Aid training, cultural competency training... the list goes on!

Now Heather is training someone to pick up the job I she's beginning to realise just how big the job has become. So much had become second nature to her but needs to be explained thoroughly to Linda. Heather is starting to write a book outlining the job (I don't think 'booklet' like she did for our reception tasks covers it). Perhaps she should copyright it and sell it to other practices!

On top of all this, Heather is lots of fun. She lost a little of the spark with Lou's death, but she's bravely soldiering on, and still enjoys a laugh, and a good story. She still maintains energy and enthusiasm to learn and try new things, too. All such wonderful qualities to bring to the team, we'll miss her greatly.

Heather finishes at the practice in early September - and hopefully will enjoy one more catch up with her fellow practice managers from around the locality.