GB Integrated Community Health Centre: Where we've got to
The interim management group is now at an advanced stage in defining how an integrated family health centre for Golden Bay could operate and what it might look like.
Known as Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauora o Mohua, it aims to provide health services 24 hours a day at one modern purpose-designed location, helping doctors and nurses work better as a team, making the best use of specialist skills and providing consumers with better comfort and amenities. A GP clinic in Collingwood will be maintained.
The main aims of the group working on the project are to:
- create a modern complex that integrates health care for Golden Bay people
- attract health professionals and ensure the present high standard of care continues
- ensure aged residential care remains in Golden Bay
- maintain Government and DHB involvement and financial support.
The idea is based on agreement between the Golden Bay Medical Trust, the Joan Whiting Rest Home Memorial Trust and the Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board. The health board has agreed to commit Golden Bay Community Hospital, or the proceeds from the sale of the hospital to the project, subject to Ministerial approval. There are similar in-principle commitments from Joan Whiting and the Medical Centre regarding their assets with caveats such as getting community support, and related to the purpose for which the realised assets be used.
The project is proving a challenge to pull together as it involves private and public health interests, different parts of the health industry, local, regional and national considerations, and most importantly the well-being of staff, rest home residents, patients and their loved ones. In addition the project needs to offer a better service now and for many years into the future, yet still be affordable.
The group believes key improvements would include providing one point of contact for most primary health care, an after-hours service at a staffed facility and removing the need for ambulance transfers or patients driving between the medical centre, hospital and rest home. Hospital patients requiring X-Rays would not need to travel to the medical centre, nor would rest home patients needing hospitalisation. There would also be a doctor onsite at the hospital much of the time. All health care workers in the Bay would use centralised computerised records improving patient information.
Integration would provide residential aged care in purpose-designed modern facilities, with ensuite rooms, and where the nearest doctor is based in the same building complex. Residents would have their own homely environment away from the busier and noisier health services yet could move easily to continuous or hospital care.
The new primary care team would focus more on illness prevention and health promotion, with nurses and other professionals more involved in patient care. It would be a forward-thinking, more interesting work environment with adequate support systems and safety.
All the Government money that currently goes into the hospital, the medical centre and the rest home (except the temporary top-up) will go into the new complex and the efficiencies achieved will make services more sustainable.
Costs are still being worked out. It is clear a revamp and extension at the community hospital is the cheapest option ˆ purchase and development of either of the other sites being considered at Rototai Rd, opposite the High School, or Park Rd, near the show grounds, could add up to $3 million to the cost of development.
The interim group was formed 18 months ago, to integrate the three services, provide advice to the three organisations and ensure continuity of service during the transition. As well as the medical centre, hospital and rest home, membership of the group comprises the Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation, the Tasman District Council, Golden Bay Community Board, the Golden Bay Integrated Health Steering Group and local Maori.
The group has drawn up but is yet to register a trust deed.
The Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauora o Mohua Trust's principal charitable objective will be:
To meet the long term health needs of the people of Golden Bay by creating a purpose-designed integrated facility that will attract professionals to provide team-based preventative, primary (GP), acute, maternity and residential aged care.
It is proposed the trustees include: two people appointed by the district health board; one sitting councillor appointed by Tasman District Council; one appointed by Manawhenua ki Mohua; one sitting member of Golden Bay Community Board; two representing the Golden Bay community; and up to three co-opted by the Trust Board for their particular skills and experience.