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Jon Aitken grew up in Christchurch and initially completed degrees at the University of Canterbury before moving to the UK. There he had a 10 year career in Information Technology in the banking industry. A change of direction saw him return to study and graduate from the University of Nottingham Medical School in 2012. He has worked in a variety of roles in ENT, Orthopaedics, Older Persons Health, Medicine and Surgery. He enjoys minor surgery and has an interest in skin cancer. He has an English wife, Emma , 3 young children and interests include cycling, martial arts, football and most sports. Jon is the son of Dr Rob Aitken, founding member of the Halswellhealth practice. Jon is not currently enrolling new patients.

Paul O'Gorman has been in General Practice at Halswellhealth since 1989. He enjoys all aspects of family medicine and finds the opportunities to get to know families over time particularly rewarding. He graduated from the University of Otago Medical School in 1981 and returned to Christchurch after travelling overseas. He is a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, a member of Pegasus Health and also works with the Police. Paul is not currently enrolling new patients.

Fiona graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2008 and worked in several different hospital specialties before first moving to New Zealand in 2010. She returned to the UK in 2012 to complete her Specialist General Practice training. On returning to New Zealand she also gained Fellowship of the New Zealand College of General Practice. She covers all areas of general practice and has postgraduate diplomas in family planning and mountain medicine. In her free time she enjoys getting outdoors with her two young kids and running, biking, or skiing. Fiona is not currently enrolling new patients.

Born in Malaysia, Olivia graduated from Otago University in 2003, then worked across a broad range of medical, and paediatric hospital specialties before being drawn to general practice. She completed postgraduate qualifications in Women’s Health and Children’s Health and gained her Fellowship in the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice in 2016. She has been at Halswellhealth since 2010 and currently works part time. She enjoys all aspects of general practice especially working with families. Olivia is not currently enrolling new patients.

Sue graduated from Dundee University in 1986, after finishing her GP training her wanderlust brought her to work in Australia and NZ. Over the years she has worked and gained experience in anaesthetics, diving and transfusion medicine and latterly in gastroenterology and travel medicine. Recently she has been representing primary care in the roll out of the National Bowel Screening Programme in Canterbury and the South Island. Her other roles include projects and editing of Health Pathways for Canterbury. Sue enjoys the relationships and all aspects of general practice. Her special interests include minor surgery and travel medicine. When not working Sue enjoys walking the hills with her puppy, playing tennis and supporting her sporty teenage daughter. Sue covers leave and works part time for Halswell Health and so does not have her own enrolled patients.

Ben has worked in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years in a variety of positions, predominately as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Tertiary Tutor. He has an interesting academic and experiential background, completing a Bachelor of Exercise & Sport Science (2010) and Graduate Diploma in Physical Conditioning (2012). Additionally, he served several years in NZ Army as a Fire Fighter attached to the Royal New Zealand Engineer Regiment and is a passionate writer for Rod and Rifle Magazine NZ. He is available to see patients at the practice to help develop knowledge, understanding and tools in the following areas of health; physical activity, nutrition, sleep hygiene, lifestyle modification, posture, weight loss, stress management, motivation, and management of long-term health conditions. Appointments with Ben are free of charge. Patients can be referred by their GP or practice nurse.

Kevin Smith is our Practice Manager. He commenced work in the health sector in 2000 after a career incorporating the diversity of logistics, auditing, personnel management and banking. He has managed several general practices and a large multi-disciplinary sports practice. Kevin's involvement with Halswellhealth began in November 2011. He has held several governance roles both locally and nationally in the health and education sectors.