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January opening date for South Waikato Health Centre
Media Release
Date: 29 November 2013
January opening date for South Waikato Health Centre
Health services in South Waikato get a major boost with the opening of a modern health centre on the Tokoroa Hospital campus on 20 January next year. The campus is now named South Waikato Health Centre.
The centre is the result of a shared determination by the community, iwi and the district health board to bring new vigour to rural health services in South Waikato.
Having health providers – including all Tokoroa GPs – located in one place is convenient for users and it creates better networking among health professionals.
“It makes it a lot easier to attract new doctors and other health professionals to the area when we can offer modern facilities, professional support and shared learning,” Tokoroa Hospital manager Joanne Knight said.
The opening brings to fruition a dream that started many years ago and has been strongly supported by community leaders, including Mayor Neil Sinclair.
“Many people in this community have spent years advocating for the development of a health centre, to retain our hospital and provide a comprehensive health service to our community,” Mayor Sinclair said. “I know I have advocated strongly for the project since the possible closure of the Tokoroa Hospital was raised several years ago. Seeing the project nearly complete is fantastic. With the use of modern technology we will soon have an excellent facility available to patients in Tokoroa and the South Waikato district. This rural health centre concept is setting a new benchmark for other rural areas."
The result is a tribute a number of groups and individuals from Waikato DHB, Raukawa Trust, Midlands Health Network, SWPICS and the South Waikato District Council who worked hard on making the dream a reality.
“Initially we looked at building a totally new health centre complex, but then we realised the two unused wards at Tokoroa Hospital could be given a dramatic make-over for a fraction of the cost. That has made it more affordable for other health providers to come and share the space,” Mrs Knight said.
Contractors working for Waikato District Health Board’s Building Programme Office refurbished two unused wards at the hospital to house all Tokoroa GPs, a pharmacy, blood and specimen test collection, hospital physiotherapy services, and a range of clinics by local health providers including independent midwives, Plunket, South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services (SWPICS), and the Cambridge Foot Clinic podiatry, as well as Raukawa’s mirimiri massage service which already operates at the hospital site.
Waikato DHB’s investment in the project is $1.9 million, and Midlands Health Network have also contributed significantly to the cost of converting the old Ward 3 area to house three combined medical practices in a new Tokoroa Medical Centre. More than 120 people turned out to a public meeting at the South Waikato Sport and Events Centre on Tuesday night to hear about the centre and what services it can offer patients.
The other health service tenants will occupy the refurbished old Ward 4 area.
Access to the new area is via Gate 3 off Maraetai Road, with plenty of parking.
The first services to move into the new space will be Tokoroa Health Ltd GP practice on 2 December. The DHB’s physiotherapy team will move across in mid-December.
The remaining tenants will be there from 20 January.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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