A pillar of the community
Megan Sendall is the perfect example of someone who administers three national roles from her laptop in Palmerston North. She proves it can be done effectively.
Sendall is clinical director of Dementia Care New Zealand, with oversight for nine secure homes in both the North and South Islands. It’s one of three national responsibilities and a job she does because she firmly believes people with dementia must be valued and deserve the best care.
‘‘I manage the strategic direction and oversee the day-to-day responsibility for the residents,’’ Sendall says. She cares for hundreds of people in the regions covered by five district health boards. Midcentral’s secure home is based at Levin.
Sendall says many residents are also diagnosed with mental health problems and other health complications. In days gone by their home was a hospital bed, but now they have their own room and furnishings in secure surroundings, receive family, go on outings and are part of the Dementia Care community.
‘‘It’s a kinder and nicer way to live. We acknowledge them, take into account their lives and contribution to family and the community,’’ she says.
Sendall’s calling to nursing came in Hawke’s Bay. At 17, she went directly from school and was a charge nurse by the age of 20. ‘‘I am still nursing 40 years later. It’s my life. I wouldn’t do or change anything,’’ she says. ‘‘However, over the last four decades roles have changed. I’m doing things now I’d never dreamed of when I was a nurse with a white hat.’’
But if being clinical director isn’t a demanding enough, fulltime position, Sendall has two other responsibilities that take hours of her time. She is expert adviser to the Health and Disability Commissioner, based in Auckland. At a moment’s notice she’s called on to provide clinical advice relating to complex complaints the commissioner receives. The advice might be in relation to issues raised by the Ministry of Health, district health boards or people who don’t believe they’ve received a fair deal. ‘‘It could be as simple as medical care delivered to an elderly patient or a major issue at a public hospital,’’ she says.
Her third national role is as lead auditor for the health boards’ shared services. That means she audits and investigates compliance issues within the health service. As a member of a team, she’s on the road regularly from Bluff to Cape Reinga certifying hospitals, rest homes and other health providers.
‘‘We make routine visits to all providers that receive government funding and sometimes they’re unannounced if there’s been a question or concern raised,’’ she says. ‘‘For me, the greatest satisfaction is to ensure people get the best care and the system supports and protects the frailest and most vulnerable who may not have a voice.’’
Sendall derives great pleasure in her personal contact with patients, holding their hand and giving them comfort.
Sendall, 57, is married to John, a medical specialist at Midcentral, and together they have five children. Her other interests include gardening, cooking, family, music and art history. But there’s one more.
She’s involved in Pillars, an organisation that supports children whose parents are in prison. Those children are nine times more likely to offend and mentoring them reduces the risk of them becoming a prison statistic.
Pillars is based in Christchurch and Sendall travels there periodically to help with fundraising events and promote market awareness. She’d love to support the establishment of a branch in Palmerston North.