6 women IN BUSINESS
Wairarapa Ear Health Clinic – Ears To You
Specsavers Masterton
Liz Kirkland
Helen Haslett
Waxing lyrical about clean ears
Looking out for locals
EAR HEALTH NURSE
OPTOMETRY DIRECTOR
“You should have seen what came out. I feel absolutely marvellous!” This was the happy retort from Liz Kirkland’s latest patient as Women in Business waited to have a chat with her about her work – keeping ears clean and healthy. Liz believes it can be one of life’s simple pleasures having your ears cleaned and she loves to see the joy it brings. The micro-suction method involves a fine metal vacuum tube sent into the ear. There is no water involved, no pain or discomfort, just the world suddenly becoming light and airy. “Clearing out a plug of wax, sometimes the length of a long fingernail, can make people feel re-born,” says Liz. “God created an awesome design with the ear but it’s not perfect. We have small glands which secrete wax and in a perfect world it would all migrate away - but often it doesn’t.” A wax build-up can cause many problems ranging from dizziness, pain, itchy ears, to a loss of hearing. It can generally make a person feel grotty and unwell. Liz is a registered nurse who chose to specialise in ear health around six years ago. “Ears are often the forgotten organ but they are so vital to maintaining good health.” She sees people admitted to hospital with severe vertigo who, when they get a simple ear clean,
feel instantly better. If she detects anything serious and needing further treatment, she refers directly to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians at Wairarapa Hospital. While ear problems tend to affect older people, Liz’s youngest patient has been just four months old, the eldest 103 years. Liz’s kind, gentle nature is vital when it comes to having to extricate items children can get stuck in their ears. She loves the work in that when she talks with her patients, they may have come in with ear problems but there may be more going on with their health. “I can give the ear a good clean and we can talk about diet, exercise and anything else going on in their life.”
Since the age of seven, Helen has been wearing glasses. The main reason she became an optometrist was because of a situation that happened in high school.
Liz says checking the ears allows her to see if there is nothing more sinister going on, like potential cancer growths. “Regular ear checks and cleans is all about prevention rather than reacting when things go wrong.”
In 2010, Helen opened her first Specsavers practice in Blenheim. It was just three months after she gave birth to her son.
When Liz created ‘Ears to You’ she set up in the Masterton Medical’s Wellness Centre. She has a contract with the Wairarapa DHB and works in all Wairarapa towns, including at rest homes. Her expertise is widespread. Liz also visits rest homes in Palmerston North, Feilding up through to Taupo.
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before after
Specsavers Masterton Optometry Director Helen Haslett has been an optometrist for 20 years. Graduating in the UK in 2000 and practising there for over five years, she decided to move to New Zealand and since has completed her therapeutics prescribing course at Auckland University.
See an experienced ear nurse to get your ears checked and cleared. Wax blockage can cause imbalance and hide many conditions that need expert medical attention.
“I remember a girl in my year was having headaches and went to the local optometrist who detected a problem that required her to have emergency surgery. I was in awe of the optometrist for picking up the problem and wanted to be able to do something that made such a difference to people.”
“My wonderful husband became a stay-athome Dad, allowing me the flexibility to follow my career dream.” After two years, the business was sold, and Helen and her family moved to Masterton where she opened Specsavers Masterton with business partner Robert Gladwell. “It’s been a busy eight years and we have
been delighted by the support that we have received from Wairarapa. Robert and I opened with a long-term goal to make sure we treat everyone as though they are our family, in doing so, we hope to be here for many years to come. “Not only have we had the privilege to be part of our patients’ lives and watching families grow, but we are so lucky to have an incredible team, some who have been with us since the very first day.” Helen encourages her team to grow and this has seen team members complete a management diploma and one team member is studying for a dispensing course. The store has grown over time and now has three optometrists along with a friendly retail team. Helen said that some of the best career advice she’s ever received has been to ‘keep doing it whilst you love it’. “It’s so important to treat every patient like they are family. Do unto others as you would have done yourself. It’s also crucial to listen, listen, listen. The patient will always give you the information you need to get to the bottom of their problem.” Specsavers Masterton is open six days a week, Monday to Saturday. For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.specsavers.co.nz/masterton
Smart or casual? Be both for
169
$
“Making a difference one ear at a time” To book an appointment Ph: 06 370 6730 or visit www.ears2you.co.nz
Wairarapa Ear Health Clinic Wellness Centre Masterton Medical
Selected styles Specsavers Masterton 227 Queen St (Across from Regent 3 Cinemas) Tel 370 1412
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Offer available in store for all prescriptions or online for +/- 6. Both pairs for same person. Price includes standard singlevision lenses. Other lenses available at an extra cost. Final price is based on price of higher value pair and any lens extras. Use with other offers restricted.