Q&As from the Open Day 2nd December 2009

The ambulance will of course deliver ill or injured patients to the health facility so St John’s has no need to be located at the health facility.  Rather it will locate its operations at a site that meets their requirements, including the need to be central to its volunteers.  St John’s is currently considering a couple of site options.

The project is quite different.  Motueka’s facilities do not include primary health (GPs and associated health professionals) and it has no direct representation from the District Health Board.

That will be considered in our planning, depending on whichever site is finally chosen.

That is certainly a possibility.

The service delivery entry has been based there because it minimises disruption to the rear of the building where there are established gardens.  Most of the service deliveries are vans, rather than big trucks, and so should not have problems with the way the entry is currently designed.

It will be centrally located so it is easily accessible for staff.

There is no information available at this stage about that source of extra traffic.  We are working with Transit to find out the requirements for any intersection changes to ensure the safety of people using the integrated facility.

Transit has indicated that some changes may be needed to the intersection of Central Takaka Rd and SH 60.

We are looking at what transport may be required for people who are in Takaka and cannot drive to the integrated facility.  The vast majority of people who currently visit the Medical Centre arrive by car – even those living in Takaka township.

Yes, whichever site is chosen will have room for future expansion.

We haven't done any detailed studies of that yet but there will obviously be some more traffic if the hospital site is chosen.

Those who can't walk far can be dropped off right outside the door, but the car parks are not that far away - maybe 30 metres.

As occurred earlier in the year, we would set up separate facilities.  Planning for the hospital area includes isolation facilities.

We think it is unlikely as there have been roading changes to the stretch of low-lying road south of Takaka.

It is a possibility we have not considered in any detail as we think we’ve got enough to work on for the moment bringing 3 services together under one roof!

It is a possibility we have not considered in any detail as we think we've got enough to work on for the moment bringing 3 services together under one roof!

A number of flexi beds have been factored into the development

We are still working on two different options depending on the sites and there is still a long way to go before we will have the best design possible.  The hospital site does impose some limitations because we need to work with an existing building.

This is designed to make a pleasant place for rest home residents, with the maximum sun and shelter.

As already stated terms and conditions of existing staff will continue

As already stated terms and conditions of existing staff will continue

Of course.  We are budgeting on the basis that staff will transfer on current pay and conditions. 

There are three major sources; the proceeds of the sale of existing facilities, a mortgage that will be serviced from existing income streams and some fund raising ˆ mostly at a national and regional level, although there are local people also who want to donate money.

There are three major sources; the proceeds of the sale of existing facilities, a mortgage that will be serviced from the income the facility receives from government sources, and some fund raising ˆ mostly at a national and regional level, although there are local people also who want to donate money.

No.  We believe integration is the most sustainable way of providing health care for Golden Bay.  All of the money that currently comes into Golden Bay for primary, rest home and hospital services will continue to be channelled and spent here.  In addition we expect that we will be able to make savings because of the efficiencies.

That has been part of our planning but obviously we need to make some assumptions as no one can predict the future.  We are, for example, thinking about future parking needs in the event the facility size is expanded.

The DHB and PHO are committed to ensuring Golden Bay continues to receive its fair share of funding.  All money that Golden Bay is due will be received here to pay for services here.

The group is not making the business plans public at this stage both because they are commercially sensitive and because they are still under development, and may change considerably, as planning advances.  We do want to share as much information as possible but not at the expense of it putting the health project at a financial disadvantage.  We will continue to look at ways we can share financial information with the community.

The government has a legal responsibility to provide health care for the people of Golden Bay no matter what form of ownership or governance is in place.  The government is also represented on the trust with at least two representatives and it is in its interests ˆ through the DHB and PHO ˆ to make the health integration a success, because if it doesn‚t work then it will have to pick up the pieces.
A key aim of integration is to enable each dollar to stretch a bit further and, for example, make it viable to have a small rest home facility because of the ability to spread overheads and some staffing across the different areas.  There are no guarantees about what may happen with government funding in the future whether or not we go ahead with integration.

These are still being looked at, as the current trust deed is still an early draft.  Certainly the intention is that the community receives as much information as possible.  Community input received so far is currently being incorporated and will appear in the next draft.

Again that is something currently being worked through but we are very focused on ensuring there is an appropriate separation of management and governance functions.

The DHB will be part of the trust that will own the facility.  All of the government money that currently comes into Golden Bay will continue to do so.  The staff will be employed by the Primary Health Organisation which will manage the facility.

There are no guarantees about what may happen with government funding in the future, whether or not we go ahead with integration but the government remains legally responsible for providing health services to the people of Golden Bay. A key aim of integration is to enable each dollar to stretch a bit further and, for example, make it viable to have a small rest home facility because of the ability to spread overheads and some staffing across the different areas.

Remember the DHB will have representation on the trust and will not want the new structure to fail so it has to pick up the pieces.

No figure has yet been set but it will be reasonable and designed to simply cover its costs.  The PHO is committed to providing Golden Bay with the best possible health services and certainly does not see it as a money making venture. 

It has been selected as the manager because it is an efficient and highly regarded provider of health services.  There are no other organisations suitably qualified to provide these services.

The DHB has a strong interest in making sure the trust and the facility are a success.  It is helpful to have a designated process in place in the event of disputes and most trust deeds have some kind of provision like this.  Hopefully such disputes will not occur.

The group was delighted with the level of interest shown by Golden Bay people to the Open Days with 150 people attending.  We believe it was a better way of finding out people's interests and concerns than a more formal public meeting. The Open Days let people ask the things they want to know one-on-one, without having to stand up in a public hall.  They could also follow up on questions if they are not quite clear on some point without feeling intimidated.  With a variety of views represented, people were able to get a lot of information.

That will be up to the Joan Whiting trustees. If the rest home closes then the trustees are responsible for disposing of its assets.

The rooms are a good size and couples could, for example, either share a room or be in adjacent rooms.

A number of flexi beds have been factored into the development

All of the government money that currently comes into Golden Bay will continue to do so.  A key aim of integration is to enable each dollar to stretch a bit further and, for example, make it viable to have a small rest home facility because of the ability to spread overheads and some staffing across the different areas.  There are no guarantees about what may happen with government funding in the future whether or not we go ahead with integration.  Remember government agencies such as the DHB are proposed to have representation on the trust and will not want the new structure to fail so it has to pick up the pieces.