Tabitha Newton 

Tabitha Newton is young woman presenting today from a patient perspective of our nation’s trauma services. Working in communications and marketing across FMCGs and large corporates, a life switch sees her now working in the same capacity for a not-for-profit organisation. A major accident changed the course of her life. Just as in most trauma cases, recovery was difficult, risk of mortality or ongoing issues was high, and the impact the accident had was considerable. Passionate about improving the health care system, especially for those who cannot advocate for themselves, her experiences of various health disciplines and operations range widely. 

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A Patient Story
Tabitha Newton is a young woman with extensive experience in the New Zealand Health Care system.  Much of her adult life has been spent in hospitals, as she waited for a necessary kidney transplant. Just months after the life changing surgery, Tabitha was hit by a car and required extensive trauma care and support. Her personal experiences of this process will form the background to her presentation. She hopes to communicate the overwhelming positives of the current care programme she received, and some of the difficulties inherent in such a complex case. Tabitha will talk to the care she received while hospitalised, the aftercare that facilitated her return to independence, as well as exploring the challenges inherent in experiencing trauma as a patient.