His decision was to pull out, leaving a practice fully staffed with four other doctors, a nurse practitioner, and four practice nurses on the team. He was heartened by the recommendations of the recently released Simpson report that put a strong emphasis on primary care. He has done his bit to train and encourage young doctors to consider work in primary care and in Palmerston North, and to develop the education and skills of nurses. The Cook St practice was one of the early health centres to recognise how much more nurses could do to provide primary health care. Drake's former practice nurse, Karen Lowe, is now a nurse practitioner, who acknowledged the way he had accepted change and recognised the potential of everyone in the team.

Source: Stuff June 29, 2020 16:52 UTC