Welcome Home Turanga Health

Media Statement

8 July 2011

Welcome Home Turanga Health

A new GP and a wide range of nursing and support staff were warmly welcomed last week when Turanga Health officially took over Waikohu’s general practice and rural nursing service.

Ownership of the services transferred from Tairawhiti District Health to Turanga Health on July 1 and was marked with a ceremony for new and existing staff at the Te Karaka clinic.

For long-term rural health advocate and Gisborne District Councillor Pam Murphy, it signalled the end of a nine-year wait for certainty.

“It’s been talked about for such a long time; who will take it over? And after working in the community for years, it’s Turanga Health who is coming in to look after its own people”.

As well as the Te Karaka practice Turanga Health takes over the GP and nurse clinics at Matawai, Whatatutu and Patutahi.

Tairawhiti District Health Chief Executive Jim Green said the day marked an important transition for the services which was the culmination of years of patient work by many people.

“The end result is a revitalised service provided by people very much in tune with the community they serve. We know Turanga Health and their partners in this new venture will be very successful for the Waikohu community.”

Turanga Health Chief Executive Reweti Ropiha said in a formal arrangement, Kaiti Medical Centre GP Dr Mark Devcich has been secured as the Waikohu GP. Current nursing and administration staff remain, and other Turanga Health services such as smoking cessation and mirimiri visits will soon be introduced to Waikohu.

Mr Ropiha said the service has around 1200 patients on its books but it is expected eligible patient numbers will increase now that there was certainty in continuity of the service.

“As well as a seamless transition for the GP and nurse clinics, one of the first projects we are working on with the community is the home insulation programme.”

As the Waikohu GP, Dr Mark Devcich continues a lifelong interest in rural practice. He has been at Gisborne’s Kaiti Medical Centre for around four years and previously worked in rural Kaitaia and the Australian outback.

“I am a country boy at heart and have been involved in outreach and marae-based work in Kaitaia. I’m looking forward to joining the Waikohu community.”

Mr Ropiha and other Turanga Health staff held a series of community meetings last month to give locals detail on services they could expect. There will be repeat meetings for feedback on how the new service is going.
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