HealthCentral’s new purpose-built facility in Alexandra was officially opened during a special ceremony with dignitaries on Friday night.

MP Joseph Mooney and Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan cut the ribbon after a karakia by local iwi, and guests were invited to tour the building and share some refreshments.

Practice manager Jenaya Smith said achieving Health Care Home (HCM) practice status was instrumental to where they had ended up today.

More than 200 general practices across the country use the HCM model of care, which moves from the traditional system of general practice to a more proactive approach that focuses more on the individual needs of the patient, and their whānau. 

In June 2022, after purchasing Alexandra Physiotherapy, the board and directors of HealthCentral had a vision that they wanted to become an integrated healthcare business.

Purchasing the Roxburgh Medical Centre in December 2022 also meant it could be more collegial and share resources, as retaining a GP in the Teviot had been challenging.

Health Central physiotherapists (from left) Marie Stanislavova and Denise Thorne with doctors Kate Dixon and Chris Mulholland. PHOTO: The Central App

New nurses, doctors and physiotherapists have been recruited at the new health facility, attracted by both the new building and the fact they had an urgent care centre.

Designed by Medispace using a ‘racetrack’ style with rooms all feeding off a centralised administration space, when it opened on July 8 they had 200 people through in the first week.

“We hit the ground running,” Jenaya said.

The practice also attracted new private specialists who would use the space to run clinics, including a neurologist.

In the future, the HealthCentral team was hoping to include radiology, and would continue to identify new contracts to extend the range of services.

They also wanted to look at ways they can be part of a solution for other after hour care gaps in the region and would advocate for equitable access to services and funding.

Mayor Tim described the facility as a “big, bold and beautiful investment for our town and one that I hope will pay off”.