Future Assured for South Auckland Health Care Provider

An agreement announced today between The University of Auckland Primary Health Care Trust and Raukura Hauora O Tainui will in future see Raukura Hauora O Tainui provide medical services at the Trust Health Care facility at Manurewa. The University will continue to use the facility for teaching and research into primary health care.

Raukura Hauora O Tainui's Regional Manager, Te Orohi Paul, said the agreement means that the continued delivery of high quality health care services to the residents of Manurewa has been assured.

"Raukura Hauora O Tainui already operates six clinics in the South Auckland area and along with its Joint Venture Partners Turuki Health Care and Papakura Marae has led the Maori Sponsored Primary Health Organisation (PHO) development in South Auckland," Ms Paul said. "We have built up a respected track record of health care service delivery.

"Our priority now is to build on the strengths of the practice to deliver best quality care in the area, at low or no cost to patients."

"We expect to expand the centre by offering more comprehensive services such as x-ray facilities and extended opening hours."

The Manuwera practice was established over 12 years ago by The University of Auckland Primary Health Care Trust to provide opportunities for primary health care teaching and research. The University raised funding for the present premises, and is particularly grateful to the ASB Trust for its support of the facility, from which it has also offered high quality primary health-care services.

Trust Secretary Grant Wills said the Trust had for some time been seeking a way to maintain the general practice service without compromising standards. It had now been agreed that an alliance with another health care provider would ensure maintenance of a high standard of primary health care services. Changing funding policies meant that it was no longer possible for the original Trust Health Care concept to be maintained, but the new arrangements would offer patients more services and almost certainly lower fees.

"The University of Auckland will continue a teaching and research relationship with the Manurewa facility, by locating medical students at the centre for training in general practice. Where appropriate, research will also be conducted there," said Mr Wills.

"With the agreement of the Manukau City Council to reassign the lease on the Primary Health Care Trust's premises to Raukura Hauora O Tainui, we can now proceed with a smooth handover to the new health care services provider."

Space in the facility will continue to be made available for after-hours use by community groups. The formal handover to Raukura Hauora O Tainui will take place on 14 March.

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