Health

The General Practice at Waikari was operated by a sole owner/operator GP for over 20 years, until he took up locum work in 2009 and passed the practice on to a neighbouring practice. This arrangement ceased at the end of 2012.  The community then set up a Community Trust with an associated company to run the Health Centre, this has been operating successfully since April 2013.  We have employed three GPs on 12 month fixed term contracts during this period and two permanent GPs, one of whom found commuting from Christchurch too onerous, the other taking up a role with the Ministry of Health.

The Waikari Health Centre  holds a contract to provide medical supervision to the Waikari Hospital  which has 10 beds for Respite and Palliative Care .  The doctor currently attends to medical issues, admissions and discharge of patients as required,  – time is allowed for this in the Health Centre appointment book (with electronic prescribing via Medimap available the need to physically visit the hospital has been reduced).

The  Health Centre is a modern ( 2001 ) purpose built building which is owned by the Hurunui District Council and leased  to the General Practice  ( and must have the best view of a Medical Centre anywhere !..see Photos attached) .  The centre is well equipped and uses a fully electronic system for medical records and referrals.  There is good collegial support through our neighbouring medical practices (which are mostly operated as sole GP practices) and a huge amount of experience in the staff at the Health Centre.  The regional Health Board (Te Whatu Ora Waitaha – formerly CDHB) also has produced an excellent online directory (Health Pathways) which gives information on the referral process through the public health system and clinical guidelines.  This is a valuable tool, especially for clinicians new to the system.

Services Provided From the Waikari Health Centre

The premises are open 5 days a week from 8.30am – 5.30pm to provide full general practice services.  We have been providing a late night clinic on a Thursday with the GP starting at 10.00am and finishing at 7.00pm, which has proved very popular and we would like to continue this if possible. We also provide accident and emergency services and hold an ACC Rural Contract which means that all our GPs and nurses are PRIME trained. The nearest hospital emergency department is 79 kms away at Christchurch hospital. Our GPs attend road traffic accidents and other trauma and acute medical calls, working in with the local St John Ambulance, based 20 mins drive away at Culverden, and the Westpac helicopter service.  We provide services to a practice population of around 1550.

Other Allied Health Professionals who work from the facility are, a physiotherapist (once a week), a podiatrist, mental health nurse, Rural Mental Health Team, Plunket (early childhood nurses) the district nursing service (3 days a week)

Waikari Health Centre, Waikari

Community Owned

The Amuri Community Health Centre is 100% owned by the ‘Amuri Community Trust’ a not for profit organisation. Community ownership allows them to provide the best care in an ever changing environment and to attract the best health professionals. The charitable status of the Health Centre also allows them to seek funds which would not have been open to us under a traditional model.

Cornerstone Accredited

Their building allows them to fit in with the Government’s Primary Health Care Strategy of an integrated Health Centre, focusing on prevention rather than cure and keeping patients out of hospital.

Amuri Community Health Centre is a Cornerstone accredited practice having met the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners standard for GP services as defined in ‘aiming for excellence’.

Amuri Health Centre, Rotherham

Community Owned

The Cheviot Community Health Centre is 100% owned by the ‘Cheviot Community Trust’ a not for profit organisation. Community ownership allows us to provide the best care in an ever changing environment and to attract the best health professionals.

Cornerstone Accredited

The charitable status of the Health Centre also allows us to seek funds which would not have been open to us under a traditional model and to keep our fees as low as possible.

Cheviot Health Centre, Cheviot

Hanmer Springs Health Centre provide a comprehensive and easily accessible primary health care services to the Hanmer Springs Community and wider Hurunui District.

Hanmer Springs Health Centre, Hanmer Springs