Our Team

Dr Ian Currie

Ian has worked as a full time GP at Ferry Rd Medical Centre for over 30 years. He enjoys the wide variety of work that is required in a busy urban general practice.

Professor Les Toop

Les trained in the UK (Bristol) and first came to New Zealand in 1978. He has worked part-time at Ferry Rd Medical Centre since 1986. He is also the Professor of General Practice at the University of Otago, Christchurch, where he has been involved in teaching and research for more than thirty years. Until recently Les chaired the board of Pegasus Health, the largest organization of general practices and the largest primary health organization (PHO) in the South Island, and is on several national representative bodies.

Doctor Charlotte Cooper

I have worked in General Practice since 2006 and consider myself very privileged to be involved in long term patient care. I see my role as being an advocate for my patients and enjoy helping them understand and manage their health needs better, whether it be regarding physical or mental health issues. My experience includes, but is not limited to:

-Palliative care
-Working with refugee and migrant communities
-Children’s health
-Diabetes management
-Skin lesion excisions
-Gynaecology:
Mirena/Jadelle fitting and removal, Menopause management, Pipelle Biopsy

Nurse Practitioner Gill Currie

Gill has worked at Ferry Rd Medical Centre as a practice nurse for 15 years. Over the last five years she has undertaken further professional study and development, and now works as a nurse practitioner. She has her own enrolled patients and is fully qualified to investigate and prescribe for the patients she sees. She has a particular interest in women’s health. She also teaches at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and has advisory roles at Pegasus Health.

Nurse Shyrell Friedberg

Shyrell has been working full-time as a practice nurse at Ferry Rd Medical Centre for over eleven years. She loves working as part of a caring and dedicated team. Her background is in Burns, Plastic Surgery and Neonatal Nursing, and she has a Diploma in Counselling. Outside of work Shyrell loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys walking, gardening and reading.

Nurse Catherine Chapman

I have been working part-time at the practice for 12 years with previous experience gained in neonatal and intensive care medicine. I enjoy the strong team commitment to providing a high level of care to our patients.

Practice Manager Sue Place

Sue joined the practice in 2019 after a sea change from Fremantle, Western Australia to Christchurch. She brings 15 years experience in successfully fulfilling roles in healthcare operations, administration and business development across a variety of modalities within the industry including:

- General Practice – Primary Healthcare
- Specialist Practice - Orthopaedics and Paediatrics
- Radiology / Medical Imaging
- Private and Public Hospital projects and start ups

Peter

Emma Broughton

Health Improvement Practitioners (HIP) are qualified health professionals, with experience in physical and mental health, who have completed specialist training in the Te Tumu Waiora (to head towards wellness) primary mental health model. The HIP is part of the General Practice team and sees people of all ages and stages of life, who are experiencing health-related problems that are impacting on daily function and well being. The HIP can support you to make a behavioral change plan based on the issue that is most important to you at the time of being seen. Appointments are FREE and you can self-refer by booking through reception.

Examples of what Emma can help with include but are not limited to;
- Low mood/feeling down – not your usual self,
- Anxiousness/uncomfortable feelings are getting in the way,
- Work/life balance is lop-sided,
- Relationships under strain,
- Parenting challenges,
- Drugs, alcohol, gambling impacting self or others,
- Long term conditions that invite a chat about living strongly,
- Managing anger and other strong emotions positively,
- Just meeting and sharing useful information is beneficial to your well being,

Emma comes to this role from a background as a registered nurse, who has experience caring for individuals and families in supporting their physical and mental well being in General Practice. For her own wellness Emma enjoys HIIT training, walking the family dog, and connecting with friends over a flat white.

Myurun Waran

Health Coaches are non-clinical members of the primary healthcare team who are able to assist adult patients with challenges they are facing to any aspect of their wellbeing. They work within Te Tumu Waiora alongside Health Improvement Practitioners as a free service within General Practices.

Myurun is able to help patients work towards making lifestyle and behavioural changes to address challenges they face to all aspects of their health and wellbeing. This may include relationships with food and exercise, navigating addiction, management of anxiety or general challenges with low mood, stress and motivation. Myurun's background is in mental health and wellbeing support and is experienced in supporting those dealing with various mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction.