Patients or Friends?

We all have patients who we get to know, quite closely, who then invite us to spend time with them outside the medical centre. Some of my patients have interesting hobbies and have lots of fun doing different things that I have wanted to try myself. So, what do you do?

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This year, I had a couple of patients invite me to join them on an overnight tramp in the wilderness about one hour from Featherston. Immediately I was intrigued! The tramp sounded amazing – covering rugged bushland that hadn’t been walked on before, with no marked track and the promise of stunning views. They talked vaguely about a tarn (high mountain lake) they had seen on google maps and had heard about from others, but they weren’t sure where it was. I knew I would have fun but a little part of me was concerned – a lot could go wrong!

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I decided to go for it!

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We had an informal planning meeting one night over lots of alcohol but still I wasn’t too concerned. These guys were experienced trampers, and I knew I was in good hands.

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On the day of the tramp, we were blessed with great weather. It started with a drive out to end of White Rock Road past the sheep station where we parked the car and started the walk. From there, it was a steep climb, straight up the ridgeline amongst the rugged bush.
The experienced trampers cut branches to clear our path and tie knots in the flax and notches in the trees to mark our way back. In the first couple of hours, we climbed 300 meters.

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Once we got above the tree line, we found ourselves on bare rocks, tussock and exposed winds. But the view was stunning, as promised. I could see the South Island and had 360-degree views of the stunning Wairarapa region. Already, I was having fun and glad that I came.
We kept walking for another 5 hours till we reached the plateau. There we began to search for the tarn. Without any reference point or idea of where we were going, we scrambled through the bush, trying not to lose each other and searched for a low point. Finally, we came across a swamp that led us to a small lake and an area that looked like it might have been used as a campsite at some time. We found a bit of dry bush, cut some wood, and pitched our tents.
The experienced trampers braved it with a fly only while I used my tent. We made camp for the night and boiled up the billy for a cup of tea and rehydrated. At night, we made dinner, told camp stories, played the harmonica, and sang songs. Exhausted by the day’s activity, we had a great sleep and woke the next morning to tramp back down the mountain and return home.

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On this tramp, I was reminded of the joy in meeting new people and trying something new. It was great to push myself to do the “unknown” and trust those around me to keep me safe.

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Being a GP in a small community can be so rewarding, especially in the relationships we have with our community and our patients. I enjoy talking to my patients about their interests and what makes them happy.

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Accepting the invitation from my patients has opened more opportunities for me and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on this experience. We’re now planning our next tramp.

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The Good Doctor -Dr Harsha Dias

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