Ophthalmologist Graham Wilson has reluctantly left Gisborne after serving the community for 17 years.

Wilson is now based in Christchurch where he will continue to work in the public and private sectors.

He left Gisborne mainly to be closer to his children who are studying at university.

“It was a tough decision to leave,” he said. “I love Gisborne and am sad to have left. It’s been great to be part of the community.

“I saw about 4000 patients a year. You would see your patients in the supermarket, walking on the beach, playing sport. It’s good to feel you’re made a difference.”

Wilson is selling his Kiwi Eye practice to “young Kiwi” Sam Newlands.

He has trained Newlands, “who did his first eye job in Gisborne”.

Newlands is completing his training in Britain and will return to Gisborne in September

“He’s a good guy,” said Wilson. “He likes kayaking and biking and stuff, so Gisborne should be good for him.”

Wilson will continue to supervise Gisborne Hospital’s American eye specialist and consultant Jason Rodier, who is getting his medical credentials verified and registered in New Zealand.

Wilson said he would retain limited involvement in research at Mātai Medical Research Institute, but would no longer lead projects.

He will make monthly visits to Gisborne to “keep patients ticking along” until Newlands arrives.

Wilson is grateful to the many professors, colleagues, assistants and nurses at Gisborne Hospital, Chelsea Hospital and others who have contributed to his professional career and development.

Health New Zealand Tairāwhiti group director of operations John Swiatczak said Wilson made a significant contribution during his 17 years in the region.

“We wish him well in future. We are using our fulltime ophthalmologist, along with locums, to maintain our ophthalmology service, as well as upskilling our nurses to further assist with this work.

“We have already successfully recruited a Gisborne local ophthalmologist who will start later this year when he has completed his training.

“Training and recruiting locally where we can is a big bonus and contributes to building a strong workforce to support the communities of Tairāwhiti.”

Wilson said there were good optometrists in tow and he was leaving a “great eye team behind” at the hospital.

Rodier was “really good” but was on his own, said Wilson, adding that ophthalmology clinical nurse specialist Rachel Cook “is probably the best eye nurse in the country – she’s special”.