Dr Ruth Harkett

Biography

Dr Harkett is a generalist gynaecologist, who has trained both in New Zealand and in the Midlands, in England. She has worked in the public health sector and has maintained a private practice in Tauranga for twenty years. Now working full time in private practice, Dr Harkett offers her expertise and experience to women in Rotorua and the surrounding area, as well as the wider Bay of Plenty region. She has a wide range of practice interests, being experienced in open abdominal procedures and diagnostic and minor laparoscopic surgical procedures. In addition, her interests include the investigation and treatment of abnormal menstrual and post-menopausal bleeding, colposcopic assessment and treatments for abnormal smears and vulval conditions. Dr Harkett has a special clinical interest in prolapse surgery utilising natural tissues (in other words, excluding mesh surgery). She understands and values the importance of assessing each woman individually, and works with her patients to come to a management plan that suits each woman's unique circumstances. Dr Harkett enjoys living in the Bay of Plenty, with spare time typically spent with friends and family and in church-related activities. She enjoys the outdoors and spends her leisure time walking, cycling and kayaking. Her appetite for a greater challenge has led her to walk up Mt Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, in 2016. She considers that her greatest challenge to-date, and less strenuous pursuits include reading, the theatre and cinema. Current membership of professional/other bodies NZMA FRANZCOG

Research Interest

Colposcopy (assessment after abnormal smear) Menstrual disorders Utero-vaginal prolapse (non-mesh surgery)