• These are now available by appointment only
• At 7 Duke Street, the Clevely Wing area
• No appointment needed

There are booked appointments available on a Tuesday and Friday for Flu and Covid vaccines.

For more information: 06 323 9696 or visit www.feildinghealthcare.nz

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

Free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) for COVID-19 testing will continue to be available to the public and the health and disability sector up until the end of June 2024, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today.  To find out more, please click on this link Free RATs to continue until 30 June 2024 – Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand

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.

If you are at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19 you will still get free healthcare.

With the Omicron variant circulating, most people can recover at home. This is due to very high vaccination levels and widespread natural immunity.

Additionally, with easy access to testing and self-isolation, we can focus on those who are more vulnerable.

People eligible for free healthcare

If you are at higher risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19, you are still eligible for free healthcare from your doctor.

This protects those who are most at risk of getting very ill from COVID-19, including:

• people with certain high-risk medical conditions
• Māori
• Pacific peoples
• some disabled people
• those over the age of 65
• anyone else that meets the criteria for access to antiviral medicines.

All other Covid-19 related appointments will be charged at the relevant GP or Nurse consultation rate.

• Are you due for your smear test? Book your appointment today at Feilding Health Care. It only takes ten minutes to save your life.
• A smear test will detect any cell changes in your cervix so we can act faster to help you prevent cervical cancer.
• The sooner any changes are addressed, the better your chances are of success – that’s why it’s so important for you to book your cervical screening appointment.
• Although 90% of cervical screenings are perfectly normal, if your smear test shows any changes suggestive of cervical cancer, you will be referred to a specialist within one week.
• We promise we’ll be quick, discreet and if you’d prefer you can request a female professional to take your screening.
• If you are aged 25-69, have a cervix and have ever been sexually active, give us a call to see when you’re due your next smear test.
• We’re proud to be a LGBTQIA+ healthcare service. If you have a cervix, you need screening. Take 10 minutes to save your life, in a supportive and respectful clinic.
• It doesn’t matter if you are immunised against HPV, are no longer having sex, only have sex with women or have been through menopause – you still need to get regular smear tests.

• Cervical cancer is one of the easiest cancers to prevent – as long as we detect the cell changes that cause it, early.
• Regular cervical screening can detect any changes on the cervix so they can be treated before they turn into cancer.
• New Zealand has one of the best cervical screening programmes in the world.
• Almost all cervical cancer is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is spread by sexual activity. Eighty percent of people who have been sexually active will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
• It’s completely up to you who takes your screen. You can choose to go to your regular doctor or choose to go to:
  • any doctor or practice nurse
  • Family Planning
  • your sexual health service
  • marae-based or other Māori health centres
  • community health services, eg, Pacific or women’s health centre
• Whoever you choose, all screen takers are specially trained to make sure the test is comfortable, and meets your rights as a patient.

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.