Hundreds sign up to new lowcost health hub
BUSINESS has been booming since Te Kaika, a new health centre in Caversham, opened.
That is exactly what those behind the health hub offering a range of services to Maori, Pasifika and lowincome families in South Dunedin expected.
They would not have worked for three years to set it up if they had not believed there would be a demand.
‘‘It’s been going very well, pretty much as we expected,’’ Te Kaika executive officer Albert Laurence said.
‘‘But we are still trying to get to some of the communities who we specifically targeted, so we still have some work to do on that front.’’
Just over 2000 people have registered with Te Kaika; several hundred have signed up since opening day on March 1.
‘‘The uptake has been excellent. Now, we’re just trying to keep up with the paperwork,’’ Mr Laurence said.
Te Kaika (the Village) is a partnership between Te Putahitanga o Te Waipounamu (the South Island Whanau Ora Commissioning agency), Ngai Tahu, the University of Otago, health and social service provider Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora and the Pacific community.
Administered by Otakou Health Ltd, a registered charity, Te Kaika — based in the former College Street School — has OHL, Te Runanga o Otakou, the University of Otago and Ngai Tahu working together to provide lowcost healthcare and a wide range of ancillary services.
‘‘We overfinanced to be able to grow quickly and we are tracking along as expected, but we have capacity to move quicker if need be,’’ Mr Laurence said.
‘‘I think we are on track to deliver primary care in quite a different, more responsive way, and it’s exciting . . . after all the years of planning, to be able to see people accessing the services, particularly from our target groups, is quite rewarding.’’
GP consultation fees at Te Kaika are $18 for adults and free for under18s; nurse consultations are $10, or free for under18s.
Te Kaika hopes to eventually provide all consultations on a koha basis.
Te Kaika had sought comment from its first patients and clients about the services it provided and would review its strategic plan accordingly, Mr Laurence said.
‘‘We want to be sure we have met our targets in terms of whanau engagement from service feedback . . . we want to spend time now to look over what we have done, look at the feedback, and adjust services as required.
‘‘We didn’t expect to be meeting our vision from day one, so we’ll be making necessary adjustments and being held to account by our community,’’ Mr Laurence said.
mike.houlahan@oct.co.nz