Public Health staff from across the district this month (April) farewelled their long-time colleague Dr Derek Bell, a Queenstown-based Medical Officer of Health for Otago and Southland, who is retiring from his position after having enjoyed a long and varied career in public health.

Over the last 19 years Dr Bell has played a pivotal role in leading the DHB’s response to many major public health challenges, including the SARS outbreak, the Pertussis epidemics of 2001 and 2005, Meningococcal outbreaks, the dramatic floods of Wanaka and Queenstown in 1999 and the Bird Flu epidemic - to name but a few. He has also taken a driving seat when it comes to establishing protocols around tourism health issues such as border control and dealing with cruise ship and bus tour outbreaks that have been shared nationally.

"I’ve been privileged to have had the role of a medic in a public health department,” Dr Bell said. He began his health career as a GP initially, but after a stint on the Wakatipu Health Committee his eyes were "opened to the world of public health and its many unique challenges”.

Dr Bell spent time working for the Southern District Health Board as a strategic advisor in its very early days and also worked as the national director of training for the College of Public Health Medicine. He took on the position of Medical Officer of Health for Queenstown in 1998 and has held that role since.

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Dr Bell will be retiring from mid-April and will remain based in Arrowtown, although he will be spending a lot of time in the North Island working on a conservation/ecological project.

Public Health South staff presented Derek with a carved mauri kohatu (touch stone) from the local area as a recognition of the enormous contribution he has personally made to public health over many years. In his speech Dr Bell acknowledged "the fantastic teamwork displayed by my public health colleagues over the years, who are more than happy to swap disciplines, and all pitch in when the need arises.”

Public Health South Medical Officer of Health Marion Poole said, "From his base in Queenstown, Derek has observed massive growth in the area and has had to respond to various high-profile public health issues in the resort and surrounds. His keen interest in environmental issues meant he took a "big picture” perspective to work and life in general. His strong working relationships with all staff, and other organisations were invaluable in ensuring effective responses to serious outbreaks of disease and developing good systems and processes for working with others on a range of issues.”

PHOTO: Supplied