| 11 Kensington Private Hospital REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rooms at Skin Cancer Doctors, 11A Norfolk Street, Whangarei M: 021 090 34161 E: reception@rajeshpatelsurgery.co.nz www. rajeshpatel surgery. co.nz OUR SERVICES • Breast Surgery • Skin Cancer • Melanoma • Endocrine Surgery • Hernia Surgery • Lipoma Surgery • Gastroscopy • Ingrown Toenail • Teaching Mr Rajesh Patel MBChB FRACS General, Breast, Melanoma and Endocrine Surgeon Whangārei’s Kensington Private Hospital is supported by a team of highly skilled specialists taking care of a wide range of surgical needs in the Northland region. One such specialist is Dr Rajesh Patel, who trained as a general surgeon in New Zealand before gaining sub-specialty training in endocrine surgery for parathyroid, thyroid and adrenal diseases in Canada as well as oncoplastic breast surgery and melanoma/skin cancer in Melbourne. Now Northland patients are benefiting from his considerable surgical expertise. “My wife and I had been living in Melbourne and were wanting to come back to New Zealand when the vacancy came up in Whangārei,” explains Raj, who is originally from Auckland. “It was a big adjustment at first, but now Whangārei is home and we wouldn’t be anywhere else. We just love it here.” Raj is Whangārei Hospital’s main melanoma surgeon and one of four breast surgeons there and also provides surgery through his private practice, Rajesh Patel Surgery, utilising the surgical facilities at Kensington Private Hospital. “Most of the work I’m doing is in cancer management and surgery – breast cancer, melanoma, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, thyroids, parathyroids - as well as general surgery like lipoma surgery and hernias, which are very common. “For certain people who have health insurance, having an option in the private sector means they can get treatment faster. If I can assist those people, then I like to be able to do that. It also helps the public sector if that person with insurance is not on a health waiting list. I’m generally doing one or two private cancer surgeries a week.” Patients are referred to his practice by local GPs. The added benefit for many is the convenience of not having to travel to Auckland for specialist treatment. Raj notes that the surgical equipment at Kensington Private Hospital is also of a similar high standard to that used in the public hospital. Currently, the Government is focussed on stepping up elective surgery rates using both public hospitals and private providers, with an extra 21,000 operations set to be performed over the next year. “My preference is for funding to stay with the public hospitals, but the Government is currently committed to outsourcing more public care to the private sector. That means Kensington Hospital, and I, have a huge role to play as a private provider of specialist surgery in this region.” CONTACT Rajesh Patel Surgeon M: 021 0903 4161 E: reception@rajeshpatelsurgery.co.nz www.rajeshpatelsurgery.co.nz SPECIALIST CARE, CLOSE TO HOME With the launch of Ultra Group NZ in January 2025, Northland businesses have unprecedented access to a complete suite of communications, security and IT services, tailored to their needs. Ultra Group ties together three critical service streams – Ultra IT, Ultra Secure and Ultra Connect – united by a single goal to help local businesses streamline, secure and succeed. Behind this powerhouse provider is a 10-year story of evolution and innovation that started in May 2015 when Louis Pretorius, a leader in Northland’s IT sector, formed BizIT Solutions. By 2023, BizIT and Ultra IT had merged, marking the start too of a partnership with One NZ and the gaining of AWS Select Tier Status and Microsoft Modern Work Partner designation. In 2024, Louis and Joel de Vetter, a seasoned IT and automation specialist, fully took over Ultra IT. Following the launch of Ultra Connect in November 2024 (now One NZ’s acquisition partner), Ultra Group was formed and continues to build momentum within NZ and internationally. Today, the group employs a 20-strong team. "We're now poised for the next chapter – a chapter where we truly believe in the power of possible,” says Joel, the group’s ‘Connector’. “We believe in growth through partnership, finding the best solution, person or company for the job. Ultra Group has taken this to heart and has been establishing national and international partnerships to ensure the right person is available for the right project.” As an example of their role and work as a strategic support partner, Joel cites the example of a key customer that first approached Ultra Group six months ago for advanced cybersecurity solutions and for guidance on innovation pathways. “They’re an awesome company to work with as they’re keen to embrace innovation and be as modern as they can be. They wanted to partner with us because they know that we’re always looking at ‘what’s next’. We can present options to them to help increase productivity without them having to do that research for themselves. In fact, we have just launched an AI assistant for management that streamlines and automates many of their existing processes. Security is also of the utmost importance when you need to protect patient data and patient confidentiality. We partner with organisations globally to put together very robust cybersecurity solutions that are managed and monitored 24/7.” Joel describes their role as being like that of an IT department, where there is regular face-to-face contact and communication – “we aim to put ‘human’ back into technology.” Ultra Group, Northland’s business technology partners Northland’s business technology partner. Smart, secure IT, communications and security solutions that help local businesses streamline, protect and grow. www.ultragroup.nz
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