The purpose-built integrated health facility that cost $16.1 million, was the result of many year’s planning, and developed and led by a community steering group, which looked at issues facing the ageing Horowhenua Hospital, and the community’s needs moving into the future. It was developed by the community for the community.
The resultant 5000 square metre health centre on Liverpool Street, on former Hospital grounds, was described at the time of opening as a “blueprint” for future health services, not only for Horowhenua-Otaki communities, but a model for other New Zealand centres.
Bringing together primary care and specialist services into the same centre it is a virtual one-stop-shop for health services. It has a 20-bed inpatient ward (STAR 4) for patients with stable medical issues, and latterly a three-chair renal service for local people needing renal dialysis; and a four-bed maternity unit, both providing 24-hour service.
The centre is also the base for the Horowhenua Community Practice, where a number of GPs see hundreds of people with medical conditions daily. Since December 2013 an after hours medical service operates from the centre where six practices contribute to a roster (Cambridge Street, Tararua Medical Centre, Queen Street, Masonic, Horowhenua Community Practice, and Te Waiora). It is open from 6pm-8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 6pm on weekends and public holidays, for medically unwell patients.
Outpatients are also seen daily by a diverse range of specialists for clinical appointments including: cardiology, podiatry, general surgery, paediatrics, respiratory, sexual health, community mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and child and youth mental health.
The centre is also the base for other staff heading out into the community, including district nurses seeing people in their own homes; community care nurses going to general practices to assist with specialist issues; public health on their way to school-based clinics they run; and occupational therapists going to do their assessments of people in their homes.
Other features of the centre are: a retail pharmacy - Tararua Pharmacy Limited; Broadway Radiology for patients needing X-rays and ultrasounds; a branch of MedLab Central offering blood collection services; and a public and staff cafe – Café Vibe.
Horowhenua Health Centre also became MDHB’s first of six Integrated Family Health Centres - an outcome from the DHB’s ‘Better, Sooner, More Convenient’ business case. It was envisaged the IFHC was completed in two phases – the first, by integrating all the primary and secondary health care services and systems at the HHC. Secondly, by working outwards to link in the wider health networks across Horowhenua.
Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945