Horowhenua to benefit from community cardiology

28/05/2008 | Community Cardiology

Horowhenua residents are about to benefit from the MidCentral District Health Board’s ground-breaking initiative of introducing community cardiology services to the district.

A weekly community cardiology clinic began at the Horowhenua Health Centre, Levin, yesterday (Tuesday, May 27) following a blessing in the centre’s main meeting room.

The service, which is a first in New Zealand, was introduced by MidCentral DHB at Dannevirke in January. The Tararua clinic now operates on the first and third Wednesday of each month and has so far treated more than 130 patients.

Medical Services Development Co-ordinator, Amanda Driffill, said the Horowhenua clinic would operate each Tuesday, and introduce a service for Otaki residents on Fridays from June 13.

The clinic, to be headed by cardiologist, Dr Richard Thompson, represents an integrated service between MidCentral DHB and Compass Health and the PHOs and is being keenly awaited by Horowhenua residents who will no longer have to drive to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment.

Ms Driffill said: “The service takes a greater multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, involving primary health organisations, GPs, cardiologists, cardiac technologists, echocardiographers and cardiac care nurses.”

She said a large amount of strategic planning was carried out last year and there had been nothing unexpected in the operational rollouts at Tararua and Horowhenua.

“It was initially planned to roll out the two clinics together, but it was decided to do Tararua first as it has smaller patient numbers and will have fewer clinics. It also allowed us see where the key issues were from an operational perspective.”

Ms Driffill said the newly-opened Horowhenua Health Centre was an ideal set-up and its design supported community clinics extremely well.

“There’s plenty of space and the clinic rooms are ideal for patients requiring diagnostic testing with the cardiac technologists and for consultation with the cardiologist.”

CONTACT: Communications Unit: (06) 350-8945.