Health centre opening in Downtown
Palmerston North’s newest health centre has a rural feel, with its corrugated iron walls and country backdrop.
The Health Hub, opening in the Downtown shopping complex on Monday, looks more like an farm house than a typical medical centre.
Co-founder Andrew Nolan said he wanted it to fit in with Manawatu¯ ’s rural values.
The centre had 14 consultation rooms and it wasn’t laid out like typical medical centres, as it didn’t have a waiting room, he said.
Instead, hosts would show people to a consultation room, where they would be seen by someone from a team of clinicians, Nolan said.
Clinical teams were designed to work with patients rather than offering the regular doctor-patient approach, he said.
People will have a consultation with the medical professional best suited to their situation.
‘‘There’s no such thing as a nurse [or doctor] appointment, there’s a clinical team appointment.’’
More nurses, referred to as clinicians that were staff trained, and hosts were needed for the Health Hub, Nolan said.
Co-founder David Hill said people with retail, hospitality or flight-attendant experience would be suitable for host positions.
‘‘They’ve got to have that personality.’’
The $1.5-$2 million project was focused on not only clinical needs, but social and behavioural factors too. It will also provide social services.
The Health Hub Project NZ is owned by private investors and a charitable trust, but it provides governmentsubsidised services. Consultations will be about 20 minutes a patient at about $42.
The centre was meant to open several months earlier but compliance problems caused delays.
The doors will open 8.30am on Monday.