Support to Screening Waikato: Meet the team

Tena tatou katoa, ko Sapphire Barron toku ingoa, he uri tenei no Ngati Whatua me Nga puhi ahau. My name is Sapphire and I hail from the Kaipara Harbour. 

I am the program support for the screening team. My journey in Pinnacle started three years ago as a Patient Access Service (PAC) representative in the call centre where I managed appointments, triaged call backs, completed admin recalls, and co-ordinated requests to GPs and nurses on behalf of patients.

I was fortunate enough to use my experience and knowledge I had gained in PAC for my current role as here in the support to screening team. I enjoy my role mainly because we are able to support those that don’t have the means or resources to access these screening services, so it’s a great feeling knowing you are making a positive impact in these hard-to-reach communities.

My nursing career has spanned several decades and has included 20 years as a practice nurse, and several years as a Registered Nurse Assessor for ACC in the community. I’m just starting my fourth year as a mobile health nurse – cervical screening, as part of the support to screening team at Pinnacle. I am passionate about health screening especially when it is now so easy to have HPV screening done. So, ladies, are you up to date with HPV / cervical screening?!

I’m married and have 2 adult sons. I enjoy travelling, reading, and gardening and always enjoy a chat and learning about others.

Kia ora, my name is Tracey Bates and I am one of the support to screening outreach mobile nurses that work in your community. I have been working in this role for the last five years and it is great to see more referrals received and more wāhine screened each year. I have been nursing now for just on thirty years with varied roles over that time; in theatre, intensive care, occupational health but the majority as a practice nurse in medical centres in New Zealand and overseas. 

If you know the illustration of “putting your big rocks in first” my big rocks/priorities would be my faith, my family and my friends. When not nursing you’ll find me with my gorgeous husband, three grown up sons, extended family or friends or gardening, travelling, cycling or walking NZ’s great tracks. 

But when nursing…each wāhine screened is another success story! So keep sending those referrals! And as you see, I’ve got my bag, a one stop shop – ready to go!

Talofa! O lo’u igoa o Taryn. I was born and bred in Northland in a little place called Dargaville. I moved to Waikato five years ago to a lifestyle block in Kāwhia. I have been nursing for eight years mainly in general practice and just recently started my new role here with support to screening. I am loving it so far! In my spare time you'll find me anywhere that involves the water, with my partner and three kuri (dogs).