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Our staff consist of the following professionals:

Clinical Geneticists/Consultants: are medical doctors with specialist training in medical genetics. Patients are likely to see them before a diagnosis has been made. Below are the names of consultants working with Genetic Services, Northern Hub.

Genetic Counsellors: are healthcare professionals with training in human genetics and counselling. Genetic Counsellors are certified through the Human Genetics Society of Australasia. Patients are likely to see them about a known condition. Below are names of genetic counsellors working with Genetic Services, Northern Hub.

National Clinical Director

Dr Kate Neas (Central Hub)

Northern Hub

Clinical Geneticists
Dr Ian Hayes, Clinical Director, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Juliet Taylor, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Patrick Yap, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Raoul Heller, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Candice Feben, Clinical Geneticist

Genetic Counsellors
Kim Gamet, Team Leader, Senior Genetic Counsellor
Cindy Zaitsoff, Senior Genetic Counsellor
Jenny Eaton, Senior Genetic Counsellor
Kelly Sullivan, Genetic Counsellor
Harry Fraser, Genetic Counsellor
Suzannah Bawden, Genetic Counsellor
Hayley Green, Genetic Counsellor
Stephanie Burcher, Genetic Counsellor
Anita Lee, Associate Genetic Counsellor
Elisha Swainson, Associate Genetic Counsellor
Matilda Hilton, Associate Genetic Counsellor

Intake Assistants
Kirsten Craddock
Rebecca Penny

Central Hub

Clinical Geneticists
Dr Kate Neas, Clinical Leader, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Gemma Poke, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Colina McKeown, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Zoe Webster, Clinical Fellow

​Genetic Counsellors
Alice Christian, Team Leader, Senior Genetic Counsellor
Emma Felix, Senior Genetic Counsellor
Sally Jackson, Genetic Counsellor
Sarah Collis, Genetic Counsellor
Nadia Preitner, Genetic Counsellor
Nicola Menzies, Associate Genetic Counsellor

South Island Hub

​Clinical Geneticists
Dr Alex Henderson, Clinical Leader, Clinical Geneticist
Professor Stephen Robertson, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Mary Willis, Clinical Geneticist
Dr Alison Macharg, Clinical Genetics Registrar

Genetic Associates
Linda Cheng, Team Leader, Senior Genetic Associate
Jan Sullivan, Senior Genetic Associate
Jordan Wood, Associate Genetic Counsellor
Suretha Erasmus, Genetic Counsellor

We accept referrals from general practitioners, hospital specialists and self-referrals from members of families known to the service. Referrals can be made through email or e-referrals. Our preference is for e-referrals.

Referrals will be given an urgent, semi-urgent or standard waiting list allocation and should be seen in the next available appointment, within 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months respectively. Phone advice is available if a clinician wants to discuss a case before considering making a referral to the service.

We have an on-call Genetic Counsellor and Clinical Geneticist during the working week to answer any urgent or general enquiries and referrals.

Please note that we have strict criteria regarding referrals from GPs and community providers, and referrals with incorrect or missing information will be sent back to the referrer for further follow-up or may cause delays in waiting times for the patient.

 Patients are referred to the Genetics Clinics if:

• a child is born with several abnormalities
• there is a personal or family history of a genetic condition
• a family member diagnosed with cancer at a young age
• personal or family history of cancer consistent with referral guidelines which can be discussed with your GP or specialist.

 Please include the standard referral information as outlined below:

• Patient Details – full names, correct and current address, a valid contact number, date of birth, eligibility status and an NHI number
• Clinical Details – the reason for referral, past history and co-morbidities, investigations carried out and their results, current medications and any drug allergies.
• Family Details - please include all relevant information and medical records, investigations and family tree diagrams (3 generation family tree with gender and conditions specified).
• Referrer Details – name, address and contact numbers of referrer/general practice.

For those who are at risk of having a cancer syndrome, please include the following in the referral:

• Names, dates of birth and age at diagnosis of those relatives with cancer, with details of types of cancer diagnosed
• A consent to release information form (general) - can be downloaded from the bottom of page
• A Family Health Questionnaire - can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.

Consent to release information forms are given to patients when we require access to another family member’s medical record. If the family member is alive they must sign the consent form themselves. If the family member has passed away their next of kin or a close blood relative may sign the form.

It may be useful to have your patient fill out a family history questionnaire before referral because the family information will inform our triage and genetics assessment. 

Please note that if basic standard or medical information is missing in the referral, it may be returned to the referrer to follow. Please check patient’s address and phone numbers as this is our only mode of contact to them.

All consultations with Genetic Services are provided free of charge for eligible residents. Like all hospitals, we are required to prioritise our service within our budget. However, all approved genetic testing is free of charge. 

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• Family Health Questionnaire - Cancer Patients (DOCX, 83 KB)
• Consent to Release Information - General (PDF, 56.1 KB)
• Consent to Release Information - Cancer (PDF, 78.6 KB)

www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/genetic-health-service-nz