Auckland high needs health services strengthened

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Auckland high needs health services strengthened by
West Fono and The Peoples Centre combining

The West Fono Health Trust and The Peoples Centre Trust announce they are pooling resources into a combined organisation to enable populations with high needs to more readily access quality health services.

Uluomatootua (Ulu) Aiono OMNZ Chair of the Peoples Centre Trust said that the unification with West Fono appealed as it’s a comprehensive approach. “The portfolio of high performing primary health, education, health support services and dental services will allow the united organisation to productively work with health authorities, other community organisations, researchers and their programmes to provide better health outcomes”.

The Vice Chair of the West Fono Health Trust, John Kotoisuva, said “this will be a major strengthening of the health establishment in Auckland and provides an opportunity, particularly with Pacific health, to extend the advantages West Fono has provided in the west across Auckland. In turn, The Peoples Centre expertise in combining affordable, quality dental care with medical centres will bring critical oral health improvements to the West”.

The CEO appointed to the new integrated health care organisation, Tevita Funaki, said he looks forward to building on the heritage of the constituent organisations. “Both have a very proud record of ensuring those most at need in the community have access to quality healthcare services”. “This development reflects the inspiration of the founders of the Peoples Centre and West Fono when establishing the organisations and will ensure that their vision continues to grow in a sustainable manner well into the future”.

Health operations in Central Auckland, Henderson, Manurewa and the dental service in Otahuhu will continue under current brand names (St Patrick’s Square Medical and Dental Centre, West Fono Medical Centre, The Manurewa Peoples Centre Medical and Dental Centre and dental services at Ngati Whatua o Orakei - Otahuhu Health Centre).

Photos attached:

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Caption: John Kotoisuva (Vice Chair West Fono Health Trust) and Ulu Aiono (Chair of The Peoples Centre Trust) at the announcement of the combined health organisation

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Caption: Ulu Aiono OMNZ (Chair of The Peoples Centre Trust) with Tevita Funaki (CEO appointee) and John Kotoisuva (Vice Chair West Fono Health Trust) at the announcement of the combined health organisation

FACT SHEET

Combined Organisation

• Serving a practice population of 15,000 (including 11,000 enrolled patients)
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• Offering primary health care, dental and health education and social services support
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• Employing 75 full and part-time staff and contractors
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• Four locations
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o Three practices across Auckland (Henderson, Central City, Manurewa)
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o Satellite dental practice in Otahuhu in partnership with Ngati Whatua Health
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• Working with the three Auckland region DHBs and the Ministry of Health on contracts with proven value in improving health outcomes amongst high needs people
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• Well governed and managed with a strong asset base to enable further development of services based on the track record of success over 25 years
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Background on West Fono

The West Fono Health Trust was established over 20 years ago and has grown substantially through providing high standards of GP and RN medical services as well as a range of community health care support activities from its Henderson base in West Auckland.

The vision of West Fono is to be the leader in providing innovative, affordable and accessible integrated health care and social development for Pacific and high needs peoples.

Background on The Peoples Centre

The Peoples Centre Trust is a well-established community health organisation with GP, RN and Dental activities at its practices at Wyndham St City, Manurewa and with dental services also offered at Ngati Whatua’s Otahuhu medical centre.

The Peoples Centre Trust has been assisting people in the Auckland region since the early 1990’s. TPCT patients come from diverse backgrounds including a high proportion of Pacific, Maori, refugees and recent immigrants.

The vision of Peoples Centre Trust is to fulfil the promise of high needs people’s right to access affordable, quality medical and dental care. This aligns with West Fono’s values and vision.

ENDS

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