Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Professor Richard Douglas and his family, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau has received the use of a state-of-the-art ENT (ear, nose and throat) mobile van.

Professor Douglas, an ENT surgeon at Te Toka Tumai Auckland and Professor and Head of Department at the University of Auckland, developed and built the ENT mobile van in partnership with Dr David Waterhouse, an ENT surgeon at Whangārei Hospital."The idea of building this van came from Sir Patrick Eisdell Moore, the eminent ear, nose and throat surgeon who was a Medical Officer in the 28th NZ (Māori) Battalion," offered Professor Douglas.

"On returning from active service, he was dismayed to see that the health of rural children was poor. Sir Moore built the very first caravan in the 1960s, and he took that down to East Cape and Hawke's Bay.  We follow in Sir Moore's footsteps by offering a digitally enabled ENT mobile van that will be as effective as a hospital-based clinic."

The ENT van is named Tarāpunga (red-billed seagull), acknowledging that Tarāpunga will travel throughout Te Tai Tokerau, north, south, east and west.

"The need is great," General Manager Surgical and Perioperative Services Katy Wilkinson said.

"ENT is our most in-demand service for outpatient appointments. Just last week, we discussed the barriers to get to appointments with patients.  This taonga will make an incredible difference by taking our services to our communities where we know so many rural children reside, and where we know there are barriers to access.”

Dr Waterhouse acknowledged the past and present staff of the ENT Department at Whangārei Hospital.

"We are following on with the vision of George Wilson, Chris Seeley, and Jerry Gathercole, who I know will be very supportive of this initiative."

“This generous donation has resulted in a fully equipped mobile ENT clinic that will significantly improve health services for the more distant communities of Te Tai Tokerau. It will provide a range of diagnostic, assessment, and treatment services closer to people's homes without needing to visit a hospital."

Professor Douglas has taken a philanthropic approach to improving access to ENT care in Te Tai Tokerau by funding the construction of the fully equipped Generation 3 Mercedes Sprinter vehicle.  

He has established the Tarāpunga Trust, which lends the vehicle to Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau without cost and funds its yearly operating costs.

Action Manufacturing built the vehicle in Hamilton. The endoscopy equipment was purchased from Karl Storz, the microscope from Zeiss, and audiological equipment from Diatec NZ.

waterhouse family standing outside mobile van waterhouse family standing outside mobile van waterhouse family standing outside mobile van

From the left – Dr David Waterhouse, partner Dr Vanessa Vallely with their children Macy and Felix Waterhouse. Right – Professor Richard Douglas and wife Kriselle Baker.

Left – Dr David Waterhouse, partner Dr Vanessa Vallely with their children Macy and Felix Waterhouse. Right – Professor Richard Douglas and wife Kriselle Baker.

Professor Richard Douglas with Dr David Waterhouse inside the state-of-the-art ENT mobile van Professor Richard Douglas with Dr David Waterhouse inside the state-of-the-art ENT mobile van Professor Richard Douglas with Dr David Waterhouse inside the state-of-the-art ENT mobile van

From the left - Professor Richard Douglas with Dr David Waterhouse inside the state-of-the-art ENT mobile van 

Left - Professor Richard Douglas with Dr David Waterhouse inside the state-of-the-art ENT mobile van