MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Integrated health care model proves to be the way forward for retaining and training health workers. 

The secret to solving the national healthcare workforce crisis could be in the hands of a provincial Manawatū healthcare centre.

After eight years of practising what they preach, Feilding Health Care, located 20 km outside of Palmerston North, is celebrating the success of their integrated healthcare model in training, retaining and supporting medical staff, from first jobs right through to retirement.

Dr Bruce Stewart, who has been with Feilding Health Care Group since its inception, explains “We’re finding that other models of care aren’t as attractive to young doctors entering the field. The integrated healthcare model gives them more flexibility, variety and sustainability in their careers, and they really value that.”

Stewart believes the integrated healthcare model can also help staff feel less pressure at work.

“We want to provide a workplace where staff aren’t burning out and this model really helps us achieve this. We saw it through the COVID pandemic globally – that doctor shortages, long hours and uncertain conditions have a negative effect on health care workers.

“Having more staff available allows for a steadier pathway into retirement for senior professionals too. They’re able to slow down a bit, with more hands on deck to share the load. Across the group, we currently have more than 20 senior doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses sharing their experience with newer staff. We’re finding they’re less overwhelmed at work – and that’s exactly what we want for them.”

The model has been so successful that the owners of the clinic have now moved into two more towns in the wider Manawatū area. Feilding Health Care Group Chief Executive, Nicky Hart says this expansion aims to continue training and retaining healthcare professionals, as well as offer a higher quality of care to more communities.

“We’ve got a strong emphasis on teaching – we believe that by giving professionals the right skills, knowledge and what they want in the workplace, they’ll be happier. We want them to stay with us for a long time.

“As a group, our goal is to give everyone, no matter where they live, the best possible care. We can do this through the integrated model, as it can offer services that traditionally people couldn’t easily access in many places.”

Across the group, and through collaboration with other providers, patients have access to a full range of primary healthcare services, including doctors, nurse practitioners and prescribers, paramedics, phlebotomy, pharmacists, Māori health services, physiotherapy, mental health, dietitian and radiology services.  Dr Stewart says this allows for a more holistic approach to healthcare.

“When someone phones to make an appointment with the doctor, in many cases, it’s not a doctor they need to see.  It could be a Nurse Prescriber, Paramedic, Physio, Nurse Practitioner or Health Coach. In other models of care, doctors are spending their time with patients who could easily be seen by someone else. Having the options available here has really helped to streamline access to the right care.”

Feilding Health Care is celebrating its eighth birthday on Thursday 29th February. Hart says she’s excited about the years ahead.

“It’s been a wonderful eight years of learning and growing as a practice. We’re really looking forward to seeing how we evolve and what other services we can provide in the next eight years.”

ENDS

Flu can be a serious illness and in many cases can lead to hospitalisation or even be fatal. Symptoms of influenza come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, coughing, a runny nose and an upset stomach.

The flu vaccine is free for some people. People eligible for a free vaccine include:

• Children aged 6 months to 12 years old
• Pregnant people
• People aged 65 and over
• Māori and Pasifika people aged over 55
• People with underlying health conditions or significant mental illness

Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu and or COVID vaccine today. Talk to our helpful team at Feilding Health Care to organise your appointment, on 06 323 9696.

There is excitement and anticipation in the air on Duke Street where the latest addition to the Feilding Health Centre complex approaches its due date.

On the site adjacent to the building that formally housed the Feilding Maternity Hospital, and is now the Feilding Health Centre, the old Clevely Ward has undergone a rebirth of its own.

Owned by the Manawatū Community Trust (MCT) since 2015, the building was always earmarked as an extension to the Feilding Health Care Centre development next door.

Since its opening in 2016, Feilding Health Care (FHC) has flourished and the nearly 1000 square metre Clevely Wing will provide welcome additional workspace for General Practitioners and the diverse medical services that are offered there.

Leased to Feilding Health Care Property Management Ltd., both buildings are owned by the Manawatū Community Trust on land that remains the property of the MidCentral DHB.

The Clevely Ward operated as a geriatric facility from 1983 to 2005, and was named after local Hospital Board member, the late Jim Clevely.

The $2.1M the Manawatū Community Trust will invest in developing the Clevely site has been tightly managed by a Project Control Group made up of representatives of the Trust, the FHC and construction company Colspec.

Manawatū Community Trustee and Project Control Group chairman Liam Greer says the Trust is excited about the extensive refurbishment of the Clevely Wing. “The development aligns with the Trust’s mission to promote the provision of health and wellbeing services to the residents of the Manawatu district.”

Greer says the Trust is happy to have Colspec working on the Duke Street site again. The Manawatū based construction company undertook the substantial new build of the Health Centre. “The Clevely project has thrown us plenty of challenges in a unique construction environment of transport logistics, labour and materials shortages.”

Chief Executive Officer of FHC Nicky Hart says, “We are extremely grateful to be working in collaboration with MCT to extend the Feilding Health Care Facility and appreciate their commitment to the community. The redeveloped Clevely Wing will be a more suitable environment for the community mental health team and allow for more GP and Nursing services.”

The MCT was established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2008 by the Manawatū District Council, and, as its core business, owns and manages 205 flats for pensioners and those with disabilities in Feilding, Rongotea and Sanson.

In its undertaking to meet the high demand for affordable housing in the area, the Trust has recently gained resource consent to build a further ten single bedroom flats and two double bedroom flats in Feilding. The cul-de-sac of units, accessible off Beattie Street, will be known as Corrick Court and is expected to be completed early in 2023.

The MCT also supports the Senior Hub of Manchester Social Services and the MENZSHED.

There has been excellent uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination in the Feilding area with over 7,000 completed so far at the Health Center. Getting a vaccine is the most effective way of protecting yourself and those around you from the impact of the virus in our community.

• If you are in group 3 and haven’t been contacted, please book an appointment 06 3239696
• If you’re aged 60 or over, or you’re in rollout groups 1, 2, or 3, you can book your COVID-19 vaccinations now.
• If you want to get your vaccine at another location, you can call the national booking line 0800 28 29 26

We are very happy to say that from 1 December, fees will be much lower for people with Community Service Cards.

Feilding Health Care has chosen to adopt a low fee scheme, so people with a Community Service Card pay the fees listed below, for standard consultations:

Adults 18 years+ $18.50

Winter is definitely upon us, it is a good time to make sure you are up to date with vaccinations.

“The flu vaccination is important and is a quick procedure. The response has been really good at Feilding Health Care (FHC), we have introduced a Saturday morning clinic to make it easier for those that cannot make appointments during the working week clinics”, says Debbie Turney, Senior Nurse Manager at FHC.

People may have felt panicked when the flu vaccinations arrived a little later than previously expected this year. Not to worry, this was due to ensuring that Vaccines being delivered to New Zealand had been updated to include a new strain, after problems with their effectiveness overseas. Pharmac funded a “quadrivalent” seasonal flu vaccine, now available, that’s designed to protect against four strains of influenza, including two “A” and two “B” strains.

Influenza (flu) can be a serious illness, sometimes fatal. Influenza can make an existing medical condition such as diabetes or asthma much worse. By immunising you are protecting yourself, your family and your community. The vaccine takes around two weeks to be effective.

Immunisation is a way of preventing infectious diseases. Vaccinations are offered to babies, children and adults to protect against serious and preventable diseases.

Immunisation uses your body’s natural defence mechanism, the immune response, to build resistance to specific infections. If you have been immunised and you come into contact with that disease, your immune system will respond to prevent you developing the disease.

All vaccines approved for use in New Zealand have a good safety record and have ongoing safety monitoring.

“We are very pro-active at the Feilding Health Care and take the opportunity when seeing patients that they are up to date with immunisation.”

Do not be surprised whilst in for a regular check up that you will be offered to have either the flu vaccination or a discussion to check your immunisations are up to date. For instance most people should have had a booster for Tetanus at age 45 and then again at age 65 to ensure protection continues. Tetanus is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria usually found in the soil. Boosters may also be needed after some cuts, grazes and wounds. There are many keen gardeners in our district – keep your immunisation up to date.

Another discussion you may want to have with your health professional is about Shingles vaccination. Did you know that if you have had chickenpox you are carrying the virus that causes Shingles? Once again, make it easy on yourself and talk with the team at Feilding Health Care to see what options are available – they are the best people to give the right advice to assist with health decisions for you and your family.

Feilding Health Care are pleased to announce the appointment of Nicky Hart to the new role of CEO. Nicky has been working for many years with General Practices across the Manawatu, Wellington and Masterton areas. In her first few weeks here, she has focused on making it easier for people to get appointments when they are sick, and offering other ways to get in contact with us, such as the patient portal, and GP phone services. Welcome to the FHC team Nicky!

Dr Bruce Stewart has been providing a vasectomy service to the men of the Manawatu District and beyond for many years. He is very experienced in the procedure and uses the latest “no scalpel” technique and diathermy equipment.

The service has been further enhanced since the move to the modern ‘state of the art’ Feilding Health Care facility in Duke Street Feilding.

“She’ll be right” is a common phrase embraced by Kiwi culture. However,  the National Screening Unit and Feilding Health Care are asking women to think about the ones they love and have a smear test.