Our Team
Chris Tse
I grew up on a farm in small town New Zealand and have always felt a deep connection with the rural community of this country. In 1991 I moved to Auckland to study medicine and went on to do my anaesthesia training in the Auckland area and at Waikato Hospital. I then undertook a fellowship in obstetric anaesthesia at National Women’s Hospital. My interest in obstetric anaesthesia linked in well with my second fellowship at North Shore hospital which was in bariatric and major abdominal surgery.
I have been a specialist anaesthetist at Waikato Hospital since 2006. Very early on in my consultant career I unexpectedly found myself being asked to take on roles in clinical leadership, first as the lead obstetric anaesthetist and then as one of the deputy directors and director of training in the Department of Anaesthesia. During this time, I have instigated a number of changes which I believe have improved our specialty’s delivery of health care to the people of the Waikato and the quality of anaesthesia training in our region. I have become a firm believer in the importance of health care being led by the clinicians who deliver it at the coal face.
Outside of work I have many interests but enjoy spending most of my time with my family and dogs, practising martial arts, kayaking, and photography.
Area of expertise:
- Obstetric anaesthesia
- Anaesthesia for major abdominal and gynaecological surgery
- Bariatric anaesthesia
- Perioperative assessment
- Clinical governance
Current employment:
- Consultant Anaesthetist, Waikato District Health Board
Qualifications:
- MBChB (Auckland 1997), MMedSci (Hons) (Auckland 1995), FANZCA (2005), AFRACMA (2019)
Training
- Undergraduate training University of Auckland School of Medicine
- Anaesthesia training Middlemore, National Women’s, Auckland, and Waikato Hospitals 2000-2004
- Fellowship in Obstetric Anaesthesia National Women’s Hospital, Auckland (2004)
- Fellowship in Anaesthesia for Upper GI and Bariatric Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Auckland (2005)
Past non-clinical responsibilities
- Lead obstetric anaesthetist, Waikato Hospital (2006-2011)
- Deputy Clinical Director and Director of Training, Department of Anaesthesia, Waikato Hospital (2010-2021)
- Obstetric representative, New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists
- Member of Midland Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Working Group
Memberships:
- Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
- New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists
- Obstetric Anaesthesia and Day Care Anaesthesia Special Interest Groups (ANZCA)
- Associate Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators