Staff

Dr Mark Longman

MBChB, FRNZCGP

Mark has worked at Kendal Medical Centre from January 2024. Mark graduated in 2006 from the University of Otago and became a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 2015. Dr Longman has completed further training in skin checks, a Certificate in Advanced Dermatoscopy and is happy to check any new or concerning moles or blemishes. He is an experienced GP who performs minor surgery. Outside of work he spends time with his young family. In his younger days he played basketball for the Andersons Bay Falcons in Dunedin and rugby for Celtic in Timaru.

Dr Nisal Kuruppu

MBChB

Dr Nisal Kuruppu joined the Kendal Medical Centre team in February 2026. He received his medical degree from the University of Otago, graduating in 2021. He spent his childhood on farms around Waikato, and has lived in Christchurch since 2019, now owning a home locally with his fiancée. Dr Kuruppu is excited to have joined our team and be doing his GP training with Dr Longman.

Receptionist Fiona

Fiona has worked as a medical receptionist in Christchurch for over ten years, having moved here 12 years ago from the North Island with her family. In her downtime she spends time with friends, family and dog Sherman. Fiona also volunteers for Meals on Wheels.

Practice Nurse Fang

B. Nursing (2010) Auckland University of Technology

We are delighted to have Fang on our team, as she has recently moved to the Burnside community. She has over 30 years of nursing experience, most recently with the Department of Corrections as Senior RN at Christchurch and Rolleston Prisons. Prior to this she worked as a Senior RN for the Kaikoura Hospital and was a first responder during the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016. Fang has also worked as a Practice Nurse with Botany Bay Medical Centre for four years. Fang speaks English and Mandarin.

She is passionate about women’s health and immunisations, and helping patients manage chronic condition such as diabetes and asthma.

Outside of work Fang enjoys mountain biking, tramping, fishing, reading and outdoor activities with her family.

Fang works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. If you see or hear her on a Wednesday she is catching up on administration rather than doing patient facing work, or Nurse Hannah is on holiday.

Practice Nurse Hannah

Hannah is our Wednesday nurse and covers Fang on other days from time to time. She has worked with Dr Mark Longman and practice manager Deb before, so both Mark and Deb were delighted she was looking for work. Hannah is an experienced practice nurse who has a busy life with a growing family.

Practice Manager Deb

Deb brings a wealth of reception and practice management experience to the centre and her professional, caring attitude will ensure patients receive a warm welcome to the practice. Most recently she has worked for a large family medical centre of over 10,000 patients and 35 staff. Prior to this she has worked at the 24 Hour Surgery for 15 years in between study and overseas travel.

In her down time Deb enjoys making mosaic artwork, wine tasting with friends, snuggling up with her two cats and a good book, and supporting her two boys playing basketball, rugby and league.

Deb works Monday and Tuesday on Reception, and in the admin office on Thursday and Friday.

Locum Doctors

We are lucky to have the lovely doctors Dr Rebecca Walker and Dr Sandra Fountain doing short stints of a few weeks at a time here and there in 2026. This is to give our full time doctors a small break. Both these doctors have done short holiday cover locums for us before and we are very happy to have them back. Both are experienced and highly capable doctors. If you would particularly like to see one of them ask our reception team when one of them is next scheduled to work.

Retired Staff

Recently retired staff include Dr Sharon Ashmore and her husband Dr Peter Sim. They were owner-operators of the medical centre from 1992 to 2025 and are much missed by staff and patients. Peter and Sharon have popped in occasionally since retiring, and we can assure their patients that they miss them but are enjoying a well deserved retirement. Since retirement, Peter, when not playing golf, is spending his retirement caddying for friends, much to Sharons dismay. Sharon has been playing and coaching squash. They both have a growing brood of grandchildren keeping them on their toes.

Our other recent retirement was receptionist Julie, who retired in 2024 after around 25 years with Kendal Medical Centre. The team occasionally hears from her and she is doing well. Some of you will remember Nurse Ann who worked here for many years, also happily retired, and she has attended a few Kendal Medical Centre events in the last twelve months and is enjoying her retirement.

Ownership

Kendal Medical Centre is proud to have been independently doctor owned throughout its sixty year existence. Many of our patients remember Dr Sanders who preceded Drs Sim and Ashmore. Dr Mark Longman and his wife Mai are delighted to have taken over stewardship of Kendal Medical Centre. You may see Mai from time to time in the clinic. She is a Jill of all trades for us, she has worked occasional shifts on reception, is a qualified vaccinator, and has taken on various tasks behind the scenes.

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