Meet Samantha Wilkinson, the new Gastroenterology Clinical Nurse Specialist, who covers IBD and also Hepatitis C, for Lakes District Health Board.

Samantha Wilkinson grew up in Rotorua. She did her nursing training in Auckland and started as a new graduate in the surgical unit in Rotorua Hospital where she worked for 5 years. Samantha went on to work as a student nurse educator for Waiariki polytechnic and completed her Master’s in Health Practice. Samantha then moved to Waikato, where she work in endoscopy and started a nurse endoscopist training program. Samantha then took a break for maternity leave.

Missing her family, she moved back to Rotorua and was employed as an infection prevention and control nurse specialist, just before COVID-19 hit. So, 2020 was a very busy year for Samantha. Samantha was so excited to see the Gastroenterology CNS position come up later that year, taking over from the much adored and highly experienced Lydia White (who moved back to UK).

Samantha is based at Rotorua Hospital, and works for Lakes District Health Board, so she sees patients from across the entire Lakes District Health Board region.

Her role is Gastroenterology Clinical Nurse Specialist. The role encompasses both IBD and Hepatitis C.

If you are a Lakes District Health Board IBD patient and you need to get in touch with Sam, you can call her on (07) 349 7938 or email her at  Samantha.wilkinson@lakesdhb.govt.nz