Tongan Health Society board establishes new medical centre in West Auckland
Tongan Health Society (THS) Board will open a new Medical Centre in Kelston Mall – West Auckland in April.
Dr Glenn Doherty-CEO and Medical Director says the THS Board signed a lease with the owner of Kelston Mall, Phillip Crawshaw of Crawshaw Property Limited on the 22/12/16. Dr Doherty says the due diligence was completed over the months before Christmas as part of the Society strategic direction and high level growth strategies. Ernst and Young Partner Stephen Mckernan under took a peer review of the due diligence for the Society Board.
The Society will now have three medical centers as part of its clinic portfolio, in addition to its ECE preschool in Manurewa, Community Centre and Garden in Onehunga and Integrated Health Outcomes Unit run from its Onehunga Campus.
Society Chairperson, Dr Maika Kinahoi Veikune says the unique model of care that the Society offers will be available now in the Waitemata District Health Board catchment for those clients looking for comprehensive integrated family health services available to all clients.
The Society offers clinical and non-clinical navigation services addressing health and socio economic determinants of health and well-being using leading edge information technology to assist families with achieving goals related to health and social issues. The packages of care are outcome focused and overtime will impact on community development principles and intergenerational outcomes for families.
Waitemata PHO, CEO, John Ross has advised that the PHO approved the practice to be included under the Network Agreement with Alliance Health Plus PHO on the 19/12/16 and will be included under the Waitemata District Health Board primary care practices.
Dr Doherty says the operational and financial performance of the Society has allowed the Board to invest in its strategic plan and constitutional objectives. The medical centre will also provide a sub-lease to its Dental Partner –MaliMali Dental and will be co-located on the same site to assist clients with dental care as part of its service development. Dr Gaurav Taneja will sign a sub-lease with the Society to provide those services to the Kelston Community. Kelston Pharmacy Ltd will work in partnership with the clinic to provide pharmaceutical services to the clients of the new clinic.
Dr Doherty has engaged “SpaceWorks” to undertake the fit out of the new clinic and will work with CEO and Creative Director –Lizzie Whaley to build the new clinic at the site.
The Society has strong existing relationships and stakeholders in the West Auckland community. Dr Doherty has been the school doctor at a number of West Auckland High Schools and school doctor for Kelston Boys High School over the last 13 years run under the Healthwest School based clinics. He also established the new medical centre at the Whanau House in Henderson for Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust in his role as Clinical Director of the service in 2011/2012. The Society also has strong community relationships with United Church of Tonga, Kelston and Kelston Community Christian Church which are in close proximity to the new clinic.
Dr Doherty has also employed Ms Wendy Allen –Med Tech Implementation Specialist from Med Tech NZ who will oversee the clinical administration of the Society medical centres in her new role in the Society as Team Leader for Clinical Administration. Mrs Mele Vaka –Clinical Services Manager will oversee the day to day operations of the new clinic in conjunction with the CEO and Medical Director Dr Glenn Doherty.
Dr Doherty says this is an exciting time for the Society in expanding its operations with other new initiatives and contracts to be implemented in South Auckland also in April 2017. Our aim is to offer and provide services across the Auckland region consolidating our position as a major primary care provider across the region. The Society has won a number of awards and business accolades for its business, contract and service performance over the last three years including many new government contracts in the health and social services space. The new clinic will also be a teaching practice for medical and nursing students and General Practitioner Registrars who are undertaking their Fellowship training with the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners based at the Society medical centres and the University of Auckland School of Medicine –Department of General Practice and Primary Care. Dr Doherty has recently been appointed as a Senior Honorary Lecturer with the Department of General Practice and Primary Care and is the Royal College teacher for the Society.